Claxton successfully completes well abandonment of Horne and Wren Platform for Tullow Oil

Claxton has completed its involvement in the abandonment of two wells on the Horne and Wren Platform in the Southern North Sea.

Completed within 18 days in July 2016, Claxton was responsible for the 5.1/2” tubing cut verification, tubing recovery, sub-mudline abrasive conductor severance, conductor cut verification and the subsequent multi-string recovery from both wells.

The project engineer at Claxton, said: “The multi-string severance was performed from a jack-up lift barge (JULB) for this project, allowing significant cost savings for the client against the use of a rig.

“The Horne and Wren platform has a small 8m x 8m weather deck footprint, creating a space challenge which we managed to overcome. As well as using our latest evolution of the ‘SABRE’ abrasive cutting system, this project also required a full, bespoke, light weight work package. This included a hydraulic proving system and a utility crane to ensure self-sufficiency in handling our equipment.

“Proving of tubing and conductor cuts were completed with the same system, enabling us to reduce equipment, time and money for the client. Equipment was located on the JULB with services run to the platform for the tubing recovery and multi-string severance and subsequent casing retrieval.

“We also developed a bespoke tubing laydown frame that allowed the quick and safe laydown of the severed tubing in a controlled manner.”

Claxton can overcome issues in engineering bespoke designs to accommodate all platforms and environments. Rigless platform well abandonment is just one of the many services Claxton can offer to reduce the costs of decommissioning projects.