Well-Safe Solutions has bagged a contract for plugging and abandoning (P&A) 14 wells to be undertaken by the Well-Safe Defender semi-submersible rig in British waters from an undisclosed client.

According to the Scotland-based well decommissioning specialist, the deal is the first scope it has secured for the Well-Safe Defender semi-submersible rig. Well-Safe Defender, which was previously known as WilPhoenix, was acquired by Well-Safe Solutions in June 2022 from Awilco Drilling for $15.5 million.

The well plugging and abandoning project will see the mobilization of the Well-Safe Defender semi-submersible rig in March 2023 for nearly 250 days of work.

Neil Ferguson — Well-Safe Solutions Operations Director said: “This is a very exciting time for our teams, with a little over a month between Well-Safe taking ownership of the Well-Safe Defender and the signing of this contract with our latest client.”

Presently, the Well-Safe Defender rig is going through various efficiency enhancements as part of its integration into Well-Safe Solutions. The recertification process of the semi-submersible rig is also going on.

Gavin Robinson — Well-Safe Solutions Commercial Manager said: “We are delighted to assist our client, a leading European operator, with meeting their decommissioning obligations on these historic fields.

“Like the Well-Safe Guardian and Well-Safe Protector, the Well-Safe Defender is a dedicated decommissioning asset converted from a drilling rig. Clients benefit from a greatly reduced carbon footprint and quicker mobilisation times as a result, as no virgin steel is required for a new-build rig.”

  Gavin Robinson, Neil Ferguson, Oil and gas industry news, Oil and gas news, Scotland, Well-Safe Defender rig, Well-Safe Solutions