Simulator prepares rig crew for North Sea P&A tasks

Well Expertise has used a mobile simulator for P&A well control training for decommissioning of the Oselvar field in the southern Norwegian North Sea.

The company is responsible for managing planning and execution of permanent P&A of three subsea template wells at Oselvar for operator DNO. 

 According to 3t Energy Group, this is the first time an on-the-rig (OTR) simulator has been used in-situ for P&A well-specific training of crews to cover potential well control situations in the operation. 

 Well Expertise worked with 3t subsidiaries Drilling Systems and training specialist Survivex to develop specific scenarios to simulate bull heading, reverse circulation, trapped gas and cutting casing operations.

Six crews were then put through various scenarios to test choke control and response to pressure increases. 

 Well Expertise now plans to adopt customized onboard simulator training for other drilling campaigns later this year involving at least three exploration wells, including one HP/HT well for DNO, Wellesley, and other operators. 

 Morten Laget from Well Expertise said: “Killing the well is a key part of any decommissioning project and presents its own unique challenges. Plug and abandonment training is typically not addressed to this extent during periodic mandatory well control courses, but the OTR equipment allowed us to undergo some practical training on the rig itself during work time combined with review of subsea equipment and associated operations.
Source: Offshore Mag.

“This helped the crew in building competency and confidence and lowering the risk of major well control incidents.”