Global offshore engineering solutions provider Aquaterra Energy has secured a contract to supply high pressure riser (HPR) equipment and services for a subsea abandonment project in the central North Sea.
Under a multi-million pound deal, the company will involve in the abandonment of ten subsea wells through deploying subsea HPR system from a jack-up rig.
The deal is also expected to comprise two further subsea wells, taking the total number of abandonments to 12.
Aquaterra has completed rise analysis, which was validated by Bureau Veritas. It is said to have confirmed a 50-year return storm operating envelope after HPR and rig optimizations were implemented.
The firm’s Initiation Engineering or Well Start specialism was implemented on the project to enhance well activity starting with the entire first phase of the well.
It will help to minimize third party interfaces across a client’s project and meet supply and equipment requirements, before the introduction of a blowout preventer
The project is expected to complete in the fourth quarter of this year.
Aquaterra Energy managing director George Morrison said: “Aquaterra has built a successful track record of jack-up and subsea high pressure riser operations over recent years using similar systems.
“The use of jack-ups can potentially mitigate the heavy loading implications and weather constraints often associated with semi-submersibles in shallow water and thus, extend the operating envelope and productive time through a reduction in waiting on weather.”
“A change in the default mindset is needed to consider jack-up drilling units equipped with an HPR for shallow water subsea drilling, completion, intervention, and abandonment activities as they can significantly reduce risk and lower operational costs when compared to a semi-submersible completing the same operation.”