Petrofac kicks off well decommissioning job in UK

Petrofac’s Engineering & Production Services business (EPS) has begun the activity on its previously awarded well decommissioning contract for the Rubie and Renee fields located off the UK.

To remind, Awilco Drilling last March signed a contract with Petrofac for the provision of WilPhoenix rig in support of a three-well plug & abandonment program on Rubie and Renee fields.

The program was scheduled to start in early May.

Come early May and the two companies agreed to delay the beginning of the program on Rubie and Renee until 25 May 2020, putting Awilco’s rig on standby rate.

In an update on Wednesday, Petrofac said that, over the next three months, it would provide well operator, well engineering, and project management services to decommission four wells within the Rubie and Renee fields, 200km northeast of Aberdeen.

Three of these wells will now be decommissioned on a lump-sum turnkey basis, Petrofac said.

Petrofac is responsible for detailed planning, direct procurement and management of all subcontracted services, including the provision of a semi-submersible rig, in delivering this well decommissioning campaign.

Nick Shorten, Managing Director for Petrofac Engineering and Production Services West, said: “We are excited to kick-off this critical well decommissioning activity. The contract builds on our existing track record for delivering Well Operator and Project Management services for clients globally, but specifically in the UKCS where in recent years we have successfully delivered numerous multi-well decommissioning campaigns, permanently abandoning 25 wells since 2016.

“We have delivered significant savings for our clients during these campaigns and are delighted to capitalise on our track record by decommissioning three of the four wells on a lump sum turnkey basis to align with our client’s operating strategy”.