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COVER PARTNER
WELL-SAFE SOLUTIONS
a company providing a ground-breaking approach to the safe and cost-efficient decommissioning of wells, have been awarded two contracts for the Well-Safe Guardian, the first dedicated well-decommissioning semisubmersible in the world.
The Repsol Sinopec award, a 14 well programme, employs an innovative commercial contracting model giving flexibility around the scheduling of the work which allows Well-Safe to apply campaign efficiencies across scopes for multiple clients. Improvements in the efficiency of scope can reduce the amount of time a vessel spends on site and helps to lower emissions. Well-Safe have worked collaboratively with their client to ensure this contract delivers not only the clients’ expectations, but also aligns with the OGA and OGUK Decommissioning strategies of driving cost efficiencies and cost certainty, sharing knowledge and delivering continuous improvement throughout the campaign, whilst employing innovative new technologies, new ways of working and challenging the norm. “Collaboration is a phrase that has been bandied about the industry for years” states Jane Eddie, Bid Manager, “but collaboration is not as easy as it sounds. It takes open, honest conversations which can sometimes be difficult. Working together to achieve a mutually beneficial conclusion takes time, but the hard work put in by both sides has definitely been worth the effort.”
Phil Milton, CEO
From humble beginnings in 2017, the initial group at Well-Safe have been joined by an ever-growing team bringing the current numbers to 130, expected to increase to 209 prior to mobilisation of the Well-Safe Guardian with further growth expected as they move towards deployment of the Well-Safe Protector. These contract awards will see Well-Safe securing employment for around 120 personnel in both onshore and offshore positions. Anita Martin, HR Manager commented “This year has seen significant growth to the business, and we know this is set to continue which is why we have worked hard to secure and retain the best people, by creating a work environment that people enjoy and where they can thrive. Planning ahead for our future growth has also seen us invest significantly in increasing our youth employment which is one of our Diversity and Inclusion deliverables. We are also excited that the contract awards have allowed us to employ our first two female crew members on the Well-Safe Guardian.”
A key component of this innovative contracting model was understanding the risk and apportioning it in the right areas. “This model required Well-Safe to complete a very detailed assessment of The Repsol Sinopec contract will see the deployment of both The Repsol Sinopec the required operations and understand the the Dive and SMART systems (“Subsea Modular Abandonment contract will see the risks involved in each well plus decide who Riser Technology”). The dive system ensures well access is is best placed to carry that risk. We were established on older hydraulic and manual tree systems, which deployment of both the very careful not to just increase the price to predate ROV technology. Having the Dive System available as Dive and SMART systems transfer risk but focus on the risks Well-Safe an integrated asset onboard the Well-Safe Guardian is a game(“Subsea Modular could control. There are some risks that changer for well decommissioning. It eliminates dependencies contractors just can’t accept as they rightly on having dual vessel mobilisations, the associated safety Abandonment Riser belong to the organisation that benefitted and environmental impact and eliminates standby time for the Technology) from the value the well brought through its rig – accelerating project delivery, increasing vessel utilisation life. It’s about agreeing fair and reasonable risk and decreasing project costs. This will be the first time a saturation allocation, I think we are unique in this area as we dive system has been available on a rig for in excess of 20 years. have a strong well engineering team and we own our The asset has recently been granted the operational Safety Case by the assets so we can control the major levers” commented HSE which was the latest major milestone in a 3+ year process to bring this Matt Jenkins, Chief Operating Officer. solution to the industry. Close relationships with all stakeholders will continue through to operational start-up with the system offshore. The second award, a 9 well programme, will commence during a break in the initial contract to allow for the procurement and The SMART system is a cost-efficient, lightweight well access system optimised manufacturing of the subsea long lead equipment required for operations on weak or fatigue damaged trees and wellheads. The SMART to re-enter some of the wells. The combination of the two intervention riser system blends the availability and technical benefits of awards will see the Well-Safe Guardian mobilise in Q4 2021 lightweight intervention systems with the operational speed benefits of with continuous operations through Q3 2023. Well-Safe deployment from a moored vessel – critical in reducing risk of failure of weak aim to expand on this initial programme and are already in wellhead systems. The system can provide a mechanism to deploy wireline or discussions with potential clients looking to benefit from coiled tubing. These technologies are what make the Well-Safe Guardian a onejoining an ongoing campaign. of-a-kind decommissioning unit. These awards validate Well-Safe’s strategy to deliver a multioperator, multi-well campaign and schedule the work to provide optimal efficiencies. The benefits of schedule flexibility flow down the entire supply chain and ensure continuity of personnel, equipment and the sharing of lessons learned.
www.ogv.energy I October 2021
Traditionally, the reservoir decommissioning phase is either undertaken partially by multiple vessels, followed by a rig, or by mobilising a rig and associated support services from the outset. Deploying the 12-person saturation diving system and the SMART system from the Well-Safe Guardian enables a one vessel approach. This limits the duration and number of divers in saturation,
