An Aberdeen-based well management company, Zenith Energy, has completed a plug and abandonment project of a platform well offshore Italy.

Zenith said on Monday that it provided well engineering and project management services to Rockhopper Exploration during a P&A project on the Ombrina Mare development well.

The operation involved re-entry to the existing well situated on an unmanned platform, bullheading operations, removal of completion, casing and wellhead equipment, and the setting of permanent barrier cement plugs.

The company said that the operations were completed using the Atwood Beacon jack-up drilling rig.

Zenith Energy’s operations director, Chris Collie, said: “This project marks a significant milestone for Zenith. We have safely and efficiently completed our first offshore well management project, which was planned and executed by a small but highly experienced team within a five-month period.

“Our team planned and executed operations within AFE and the project involved all operations that you would typically expect in a well abandonment – slick line, wireline, Xmas tree removal, cementing, cutting and pulling casing and removal of topside wellhead equipment in a well with high concentrations of H2S and A annulus pressure issues.”

Collie added that the company was able to complete the project regardless of a strict regulatory regime in Italy and challenging working environments.

Rockhopper Exploration COO, Fiona MacAulay, said: “Zenith provided Rockhopper with the well engineering personnel to plan and manage our well abandonment operation, and they have achieved our objectives of permanently abandoning the Ombrina Mare well. They integrated well with the Rockhopper team and provided a first class team of engineers to deliver the project safely and within budget.”

Source: www.offshoreenergytoday.com