Equinor has awarded a key contract to Island Drilling Company to carry out well plugging operations in its fields on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS). This agreement, valued at approximately $330 million, will be carried out using the Island Innovator rig, a semi-submersible specially designed for offshore operations.
Plugging and perforation in the NCS
The contract is for three years and includes five one-year extension options. Island Drilling will be responsible for the mobilization and upgrade of the Island Innovator platform , which will be operational in 2026. The platform will perform well plugging and is also designed to drill enhanced oil recovery wells , a key part of Equinor’s strategy to maintain its production in the North Sea until 2035.
With a focus on sustainability and safety, the Island Innovator rig will be used to plug between 15 and 20 wells each year . Wells in the Heidrun, Snorre, and Norne licenses will be among the areas of intervention. Erik G. Kirkemo, Vice President of Drilling and Wells at Equinor, highlighted the importance of this rig, which offers a specialized tool to ensure permanent well plugging prior to field decommissioning.
Strategic alliances for the execution of the works
In addition to Island Drilling, Equinor has signed framework agreements with oilfield service companies Archer Oiltools and Baker Hughes Norge, which will provide comprehensive services for the plugging operations over the next seven years.
These agreements focus on ensuring quality, safety, and efficiency in well plugging, which will help reduce labor costs at the NCS.
The future of well plugging operations in the NCS
Equinor operates more than 1,400 production and injection wells in the NCS. Efforts continue to extend the productive life of existing fields and ensure their proper exploitation. Furthermore, the use of existing wells through the slot reclamation process has allowed Equinor to reduce drilling costs and efficiently increase production.
It is estimated that by 2030, approximately 80 subsea wells will be permanently plugged on mobile platforms, while 90 platform wells will also be plugged. This process will continue until 2045, when an additional wave of permanent plugging is expected.
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Source and photo: Equinor
