Helix secures contract with ESSO offshore Nigeria

U.S.-based Helix Energy Solutions Group has won a contract for deepwater well intervention with Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (ESSO) for a project located approximately 97 kilometers offshore Nigeria.

The activities to be carried out in the Erha and Usan fields are expected to commence in September 2024 with the Q4000 DP3 riser-based semi-submersible well intervention vessel vessel expected to be in Nigeria into 2025.

Helix is to also provide a 10k intervention riser system (IRS), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), project management, and engineering services to cover integrated well intervention services from production enhancement to plug and abandonment. The activities are going to be carried out in water depths varying between 700 and 1,500 meters. 

“We are pleased to announce this contract for the Q4000. We are eager to strengthen our relationship with Esso and to further establish our presence as the leader for well intervention services in West Africa,” said Scotty Sparks, Helix’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

According to Helix, the Q4000 serves as an offshore platform that can perform a wide range of tasks, including subsea well intervention, field and well decommissioning, subsea equipment installation and recovery, well testing, and emergency well containment. 

In terms of other recent news coming from the firm, Helix Energy Solutions earlier this month secured the extension of its decommissioning contract with Trident Energy do Brasil at rates said to be in line with the improved well intervention market.

The contract extension, expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2024, is for an additional 12 months and is in direct continuation of the current contract.