Beyond the Tubing: A Technical Roadmap for Rigless Abandonment and Enhanced Cost-Efficiency

Having recently completed an industry first, and highly successful, controlled trial of Through Tubing Logging (TTL) new technology services available globally, speakers Lewis Harper from Net Zero Technology Centre and Iain Whyte from Islay Subsurface & Engineering will discuss the relevance of this game changing development, and how it fits within the ultimate goal of achieving rigless abandonments, and Through Tubing Abandonment strategies.

The speakers will share insights into current status of Through Tubing Abandonment (TTA) activity in the UK and discuss the operational and financial potential pitfalls, but also massive opportunities this decommissioning technique presents. They will talk about the technology race currently underway across the global industry to attempt to deliver a Through Tubing Logging service that can ultimately be trusted and believed without the need to cut and retrieve tubing strings and perform a more conventional validation log. They will discuss how relevant this is to both the validation of traditional cement bond verification and squeezing/creeping natural barriers. They will also discuss the “next steps” on the road to accepting these new tech logging techniques as a standalone answer product.

Having set the scene on the opportunity TTL present, we will address some additional complexity potentially standing in way of TTA, and some considerations and mitigations that should be incorporated into abandonment planning. This will specifically be focussed on wells where gauge cables and/or hydraulic control lines are present, and how this may impact the ability to plan and execute an effective and successful Through Tubing Abandonment strategy.

Finally, the presenters will round off by sharing a real life cost saving opportunity example wrapping up “value of the prize” associated with Through Tubing Abandonment.

The ultimate aim is to provide practical support and guidance to operators, well management companies and service providers investigating the cost and complexity reducing opportunities associated with Through Tubing Abandonment.

Iain Whyte Biography

Iain Whyte graduated from Robert Gordon University with a Hons degree in Applied Physics in 1995. In 1996 he joined Atlas Wireline Services as a Cased Hole Wireline Engineer, which later became Western Atlas, Baker Atlas and ultimately Baker Hughes. The role took him all over the world, logging in diverse circumstances! In 2003 Iain joined Wellserv (Weatherford) as General Field Engineer. In 2004 he joined BP to support Black Sea exploration offshore Turkey. He stayed at BP until 2010 covering Operations and Studies Petrophysics in Norway, Angola and Azerbaijan. In December 2010 Iain started Islay Petrophysics LTD, predominantly to work for Tullow Oil as Group Lead of Petrophysics Operations. 15 years later, Iain still consults to Tullow, but has also grown the consultancy company into what is now Islay Subsurface & Engineering LTD. Iain has served in various positions on LPS Committee, including President and Past President roles. Iain grew up as a farmer and whisky distiller’s son on the tiny Island of Islay he still calls “home”.

Lewis Harper Biography

Lewis is the programme manager for industry collaborations at the Net Zero Technology Centre, including the Wells Decommissioning Collaboration. With over 13 years of experience in the industry, Lewis has honed his skills in offshore execution from his time with Subsea 7 through to the piloting of new technologies with NZTC.