Offshore Fishing - Balance Point Control

Background

The platform was located on an Oil Producing Field in the Mediterranean off the coast of Sicily.

The wells were completed in the mid 1980´s to produce heavy 15.5 API oil

Over the course of thirty years the integrity of these wells had suffered, thus a workover campaign utilising HWO was initiated

The platform previously had a drilling derrick, so lent itself to HWO very well.

Objective

To recover the old completion, test integrity of 9-5/8” casing, dependant on 9-5/8” Integrity then run 7-5/8” Casing to surface before re-completing the well.

Execution

This shall concentrate on one of the Wells

Upon pulling the hanger the completion parted.
POOH it became evident the completion was in a severely corroded condition.
Following six fishing runs the remainder of the completion was retrieved piece by piece.
On the 5th fishing run the completion plugged off thus communication to reservoir was lost. Coil tubing was rigged up on top of HWO to establish communication.
9-5/8” Casing had no integrity thus a 7-5/8” casing string was run to surface.
Well was completed with 3-1/2” completion and brought back online.

Results

Successfully worked over well and brought it back online.
Well control was successfully maintained at all times in exceptionally difficult circumstances.
Unit successfully rigged up on time.
Great team work from all parties involved.
Zero incidents and accidents.
Operation was conducted at a level above and beyond customer expectation.
Balance Point Control´s first Italian Operation.