Well decommissioning specialists Well-Safe Solutions have signed an agreement with Spirit Energy to add a well from the Appleton field to the existing scope of the Well-Safe Defender semi-submersible rig.
This project will add approximately one month of work to the backlog of the Well-Safe Defender, which mobilised in March 2023 to plug and abandon (P&A) 14 wells on the UK continental shelf for Spirit Energy.
The addition of the Appleton well, for an undisclosed value, follows the successful decommissioning of wells in the Chestnut and Trees fields, with the latter currently ongoing.
Chris Hay, Director of Strategy and Commercial at Well-Safe Solutions, said: “From the earliest days of Well-Safe Solutions over six years ago, we have fostered collaborative working throughout the industry to realise safe, smart and efficient well decommissioning operations.
“Spirit Energy’s decision to grant Well-Safe Solutions this contract extension is an endorsement of the excellent performance of the Well-Safe Defender and its crew.
“Our excellent HSE and operational track record throughout the ongoing campaign has provided Spirit Energy with the assurance and encouragement they needed to award us this scope extension.
“We are proud to continue our relationship with Spirit Energy and look forward to continuing our world-class decommissioning operations later this year.”
Head of Wells for Spirit Energy, Nicky Riley, said: “Well-Safe’s continued strong performance has allowed us to collaborate further with the team – accelerating the decommissioning of the Appleton well, aligning us further with our strategic pillar of meeting and de-risking our decommissioning operations.”
The Appleton field, 160 miles east of Dundee, was originally discovered in 1997 by Amoco and Amerada Hess.
This contract win is the latest during a summer of international expansion for Well-Safe Solutions, who recently announced an expansion into CCUS projects and the appointment of Alexa Duncan as the company’s first-ever Energy Transition Manager.
The Well-Safe Defender mobilising for Spirit Energy in April 2023.
