New well delivery program reduces costs and increases efficiency
As markets become more challenging, operators look to increase efficiency and reduce the footprints of their internal employees. Traditionally, operators have interfaced independently with all the service providers required to execute intervention and field development work. C-Innovation (C-I) offers to take over the interface management and bridging between contractors to offer turnkey services with a single interface for the operator. Efficiency of logistics, operational execution and risk management are all optimized with an integrated services approach. The solution is not a “one size fits all” approach. It is instead tailored to each operator’s specific way of doing business.
New Well Delivery Program. A new well delivery program manages all aspects of well tie-back operations post drill rig completion through well startup which in the case of vertical completion systems can also combine XT installation freeing the MODU up early to perform other activities, Fig. 1. The program reduces costs for operators by combining project management, engineering and offshore execution as a turnkey service, utilizing a single team for up-front planning, risk assessments and action close out. The program also enables client project team and asset engagement, metrology planning and execution, third party vendor management and procurement, equipment logistics and loadouts, procedures/drawings and analysis. The program also optimizes installation and support vessel mobilization/demobilization, as built survey and project close out documentation.
Leigh Anderton, new well delivery team lead said, “Our projects mainly consist of a complete subsea installation post well completion, such as production tree installation and commissioning, jumper installation and tie in, EFL/SFL install, hook up and commissioning, Fig. 2. Essentially, everything to make the well ready for production to the host facilities.”
David Sheetz, vice president explained, “In the past, we would receive a pre-packaged project from an operator that would have all the subsea pieces tested and ready to go. Then we would go out and install it. We are still receiving fully FAT/EFAT components—we are doing some SIT work bringing things together pre offshore and flushing/testing equipment. The new well delivery program enables us to hire industry experts with years of experience, so now instead of just being the final execution team putting it in the water, we test and deliver it. The Program enables us to build the whole package that would have traditionally been handed over and facilitates greater continuity between the vessel and project teams and less handover points at critical stages, providing a more efficient way for the operator to bring wells online.”
Renewed project commitment. Recently, C-I has signed a multi-year contract with BP in the Gulf of Mexico, securing the C-Constructor to support the new well delivery program and the Holiday for emergent IMR projects including light construction, inspection, survey and emergency response, Fig. 3. The contract also gives access and establishes fixed rates for C-I’s entire fleet of specialized subsea vessels as needed. The C-Constructor and Holiday are both light construction vessels equipped with 150 MT subsea cranes and two Schilling UHD work class ROVs each.
Ryan Combs, program manager said “The multi-year commitment of two dedicated IMR construction vessels is another major milestone in the longstanding relationship between both parties that exhibits C-I’s industry leading capability to provide tailored offshore service packages to meet its clients’ needs. Recently, we signed a two-year contract for continued riserless light well intervention (RLWI) services onboard the Island Venture offshore support vessel, Fig. 4.
With no safe vertical access to several subsea wells under a platform, the C-I subsea projects group was able to find a solution by utilizing a well service jumper to perform well interventions. This collaborative effort between C-I and the operator was a first for the industry and allowed C-I to perform the intervention without disrupting the platform’s operations. This new award is a continuation of nearly three years of setting new standards in the RLWI space. We are constantly working to change the way the industry looks at RLWI work to increase production in this ever-changing market.”
C-I has access to unparalleled resources through ECO’s affiliate companies including fabrication yards, port facilities, logistics, supply vessels and more. Because these critical project support services are not outsourced, C-I are made the priority throughout the whole lifecycle of the project, while a reduction in interfaces is also achieved. “This new commitment demonstrates how C-I’s clients value all the additional services provided and paired with its ROVs and vessels,” said Anderton. He added, “This program stemmed from our client’s drive to prioritize smaller fast paced tiebacks to existing infrastructure while leveraging vendor-led solutions to reduce cost and increase efficiency. We were able to streamline their operations and deliver the speed, flexibility, knowledge and experience to satisfy their goals. Similarly, the program advances C-I’s goal to be leading resource in turnkey project management, engineering and offshore execution.”
Value of teamwork. Fundamental elements of C-I’s success are the dedicated, talented team members from C-I and their close working relationship with the client. The project teams are composed of industry specialists from a wide range of disciplines, with decades of practical experience and each team is assembled on a case-by-case basis. C-I’s approach is to integrate its project teams with its clients and develop partnerships where success is mutually beneficial. This encourages more open communication, faster response times, promotes a higher level of collaboration and lets the team focus on the safest and most efficient solution without getting caught up navigating the terms and conditions of the contract.
Ryan Combs, program manager said “C-I takes a different approach to the contractor operator relationship. Rather than marketing a one size fits all service, we find out what challenges our clients are specifically facing in a difficult market and develop a program, service or solution that meshes with their own processes and fills in their gaps. This could range from developing a fast-tracked intervention tooling solution to managing major intervention or field development programs from FEED stage through offshore execution, no challenge is too big or too small and we assemble each project team to meet these specific challenges.”
Value delivered. Sheetz said, “The new well delivery program represents a completely new and improved way of doing business. Traditionally, major operators outsourced this type of work to a much bigger engineering- backed company that specialized in installations, not a comparatively small and nimble company like C-I. However, we have proved we can perform the work more efficiently, quickly and more cost-effectively with a much smaller footprint of people.”
Anderton commented, “The new well delivery program puts C-I in control of the engineering, schedules, feeding other ECO groups and other pieces of work than just the installations. The success of the new approach with BP is repeatable to other major oil companies.” WO
