Green light for Ithaca Energy’s Jacky decommissioning plan

Ithaca Energy, a Delek Group company, has received an approval from the UK authorities for the decommissioning program of its Jacky field located in the UK sector of the North Sea. 

Ithaca submitted its draft decommissioning program for the Jacky field to the UK authorities back in March 2018.

The oil company has now received the approval for its two decommissioning programs, the one for Jacky field installations and another one for Jacky field pipelines.

The plan is to remove the wellhead platform and midline tee structure to shore for either re-use or recycling. On the other hand, pipelines are trenched and buried and will be left in situ. The decommissioning process of the field should be completed in 2023.

Jacky is a low GOR Oil reservoir lying in block 12/21c of the UK sector of the Central North Sea, and was proven by the drilling and testing of the 12/21c-6 appraisal well in May 2007.

Jacky field was developed as a tie back to the existing Beatrice Area facilities in 2008-09 when the appraisal well was re-entered and completed as production well (12/21c – J01) with first oil achieved in April 2009. Production ceased in 2014 due to declining rates and equipment failures (ESPs).

The facilities in the Jacky field comprise the Jacky wellhead platform which is a normally unattended installation (NUI) positioned over the well locations with a topsides production tree and production manifold in 40m water depth.

Production was exported through a platform riser and subsea pipeline to the Beatrice Alpha (AP) platform.

The work to decommission the Jacky field installation and pipelines will be largely completed from a diving support vessel (DSV) or a heavy lift vessel (HLV). According to Ithaca, potential for reuse of the Jacky wellhead platform and mid line tee structures are being actively pursued.

Well plug and abandonment operations will be completed using a jack-up drilling rig. The field consists of one production well, one water injection well, and one previously drilled well that is currently suspended.

Offshore Energy Today Staff