Ziebel Executes Huldra DFO Sensing Ops

Ziebel, a Stavanger-based provider of specialist well intervention services for the oil and gas industry, has successfully completed a distributed fiber optic (DFO) sensing campaign for Statoil.

Ziebel used the Z-Line, its new gravity-deployed carbon composite cable, to gather Distributed Temperature and Distributed Acoustic fiber optic data on the Huldra installation, Statoil’s first unmanned platform, which ceased production in September 2014. The interventions were carried out to optimize Statoil’s plans to plug and abandon the installation next year.

Working from the Huldra platform, Ziebel ran the Z-Line in two wellbores to measure temperature and acoustic profiles. Work was carried out by Ziebel over two 3-day periods in April and May 2015. Each operation was completed as planned, providing data that displays the conditions of each well in its entirety, during each intervention. It allows Statoil to observe fluid movements, confirm the integrity of the wells, and plan the final abandonment, enabling the optimization of the forthcoming plug and abandonment campaign.

The recent campaigns represent several “firsts.” It was the first time that Statoil has commissioned a DFO sensing operation via intervention, Ziebel’s first ever operation for Statoil, and the first fully commercial well interventions carried out with the Z-Line by Ziebel.

“As Statoil prepares to plug and abandon the Huldra platform, we appreciate how important it is to have a comprehensive picture of well conditions in order to formulate the optimum approach,” said Stig Hognestad, Chief Executive Officer for Ziebel. “Given that it was the first time that Ziebel has worked for Statoil, it was very satisfying that we were able to use the Z-Line® to provide them with critical data that will enhance their understanding of those conditions,” he added.