Ardyne and Norwegian energy company Equinor, have agreed a second joint industry project (JIP) to develop a unique well decommissioning technology that will dramatically reduce the economic and environmental impacts of slot recovery and well decommissioning.

Equinor and Ardyne are jointly funding the £1 million project. Ardyne will manage all engineering, project management and onsite rig qualification testing before deployment for field trials.

The new JIP follows an initial agreement between Ardyne and Equinor in 2018 for the initial design and development of the resonance technology.

TITAN RS combines Ardyne’s field proven bottom hole assembly (BHA) systems with the new resonance tool to aid casing recovery by using resonance to reduce the pulling force required to free stuck casing. Successful trial wells have been completed recovering casing encased in settled solids.

The system uses the novel and highly effective application of resonance or vibration technology as opposed to hammering to free stuck casing, allowing longer sections to be pulled more quickly from settled material in the well such as barrite sag or settled solids. Ardyne has proved resonance to be highly effective in loosening settled material surrounding the casing, with an approximate 30% reduction in pull force required. The vibrations remain isolated downhole and are not transferred to the rig floor.

Compared to conventional rig systems, TITAN RS can provide up to 40% time efficiency savings for well abandonment, decommissioning and brownfield slot recovery projects through fewer runs and time downhole, with a resultant reduction in carbon emissions due to less rig time. The additional functionality means well clean up can be achieved as part of the recovery process without the need for additional trips in the well.

When considering a single well scenario, Ardyne has calculated that an average rig time saving of more than 78 hours can be achieved. This would equal 136 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) avoided, 156.8MW hours of electricity and 13,807 gallons of diesel - the equivalent of removing 198 fully loaded trucks driving from Aberdeen to London.

TITAN RS, which will be ready for full commercialisation in 12 months, is the latest addition to Ardyne’s Toolbox, a suite of technologies for casing recovery to save rig time and provide solutions to challenging operations.

Alan Fairweather, CEO of Ardyne, said: 
“Equinor’s continued commitment to the development and enhancement of TITAN RS through their reinvestment in the system shows the trust they have in it to deliver a more cost effective and carbon reducing alternative to conventional casing recovery methods.

“The process is proven. The ability to cut days off existing processes through the innovative use of resonance is compelling at a time when the industry is seeking to maximise efficiencies at every opportunity. “The environmental benefits of reduced carbon emissions through less time required on site are clear. In fact we have calculated that by using TITAN RS and reducing rig time we can avoid the CO2 equivalent of 198 fully loaded trucks driving from Aberdeen to London, depending on the well.”

“Equinor has already identified wells offshore Norway for the commercial deployment of TITAN RS next year. We look forward to providing them with a unique and industry-leading method to reduce operational costs
and carbon emissions.”

Pål V. Hemmingsen, Task Leader Low-cost P&A Equinor said: 
“The benefits of TITAN RS match our ambitions to shape the future of energy. We have been impressed with Ardyne’s unique application of resonance as a force for good in reducing project time and carbon output associated with P&A and slot recovery operations. We look forward to full commercialisation of the system from this latest JIP with the company.”

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: Ardyne