Helix Well Ops UK, a subsidiary of Helix Energy Solutions Group Inc, says that the newest addition to its global well intervention fleet, Well Enhancer, has successfully completed her inaugural well intervention project for Nexen Petroleum UK on the Buzzard S2 well in the North Sea, 60 miles east of Aberdeen.

The Subsea Intervention Lubricator, (SIL), a 7-3/8” bore single-trip system designed and built in house by Helix Well Ops UK, was successfully deployed via the vessel’s integrated skidding and handling system.

Working in adverse weather conditions with significant wave heights in excess of five metres and winds of 45 knots, heave at the moonpool rarely exceeded two metres and the vessel’s performance exceeded expectations.

Helix believes that the Well Enhancer, built at the IHC Krimpen shipyard in Rotterdam, is the world’s most advanced well-intervention/diving support vessel in operation.

Steve Nairn, Vice President of Helix Well Ops UK, said: “The Well Enhancer’s moonpool design and skidding system, coupled with our ability to disconnect and reconnect the control umbilicals subsea, enabled us to work safely in weather conditions that would have sidelined other intervention vessels. These features, unique to Well Enhancer, allowed the operation to be completed on schedule in spite of difficult weather.”

Over the course of the ten day operation, Well Enhancer performed production logging, fluid sampling and wireline services, including sand detection and flow profiling on the well.

The S2 water injection well was entered with a combined log/fluid sampling service, with additional sand detection and flow profiling equipment onboard. All on-board systems were utilised successfully.

Mr Nairn added: “It could be said that the Well Enhancer is the only brand new intervention vessel with a 15-year track record. When we first began the design process, we took advantage of the lessons learned from operating our other North Sea intervention vessel, Seawell. That experience led us to include the SIL and skidding system in the new vessel’s design and include provisions for a coiled tubing intervention system as well.”

Tags: Helix Energy Solutions