Well-Safe Solutions to Refurbish Well-Safe Guardian

Well-Safe Solutions has secured an award of two multi-million-pound contracts to continue the transformation of the Well-Safe Guardian, the decommissioning company’s first asset, into a plug and abandonment unit.

Global Energy Group and Rigfit7seas have been appointed to deliver the refurbishment of the semi-submersible drilling rig.

Global Energy Group will provide quayside services and the paintwork scope while Rigfit7seas will provide accommodation upgrade services.

As part of the upgrade, Well-Safe will be installing a dive system and the capability to deploy a SIL (subsea intervention lubricator).

Phil Milton, CEO of Well-Safe Solutions, said: “The award of these contracts, within the timeframes we committed to, will ensure that this bespoke plug and abandonment asset will be available to the industry in 2020.”

Global Energy Group, who have been supporting Well-Safe with marine operations and quayside services since April this year have secured the contract to support the upgrades and life extension works at the Port of Nigg.

Stuart Paterson, managingdirector for Global Energy Group, Access & Coatings said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded this contract to bring the flagship semi-submersible up to standard. We expect to have in the region of 80 personnel engaged on various work scopes until the end of the year. Working in partnership with Well-Safe, Global Energy Group will provide fully encapsulated scaffold access, blast and paint services along with the provision of rope access personnel, mobile cranes, plant and labour, workboats and onsite facilities for the duration of the rigs yard stay at our Nigg Energy Park facility.”

Brian Knowles, Group managing director, Rigfit7seas said: “We are delighted that Well-Safe has chosen Rigfit7Seas to carry out this sizeable scope on their flagship project. As the leading contractor in the market for accommodation upgrade services, this award will see Rigfit7Seas execute another project destined for operation in the North Sea. The project award further enhances our already extensive offering in the international marketplace and, at peak, will secure around 50 jobs across our engineering and construction teams for approximately 100 days, starting immediately.”

Milton added: “We believe we are now a key part of helping the industry achieve its 35% decommissioning cost reduction target. Joint well plug and abandonment campaigns, using our club approach will not only be more cost efficient, but also help build UK supply chain expertise in decommissioning.”

Research has indicated there are over 33,000 wells worldwide to be decommissioned over the next twenty years.  Well-Safe’s long-term goal is to export their model and advance from the UK into this global marketplace.