An extensive well suspension and flushing campaign has been safely and successfully completed as part of the Northern Endeavour FPSO decommissioning program.
The campaign started in September 2024, led by Phase 1 contractor Petrofac Facilities Management Limited (Petrofac). The light well intervention vessel the Sapura Constructor has completed the works in the Laminaria-Corallina oil fields.
Light well intervention vessel, the Sapura Constructor, at the dock in Darwin. The remote operated vehicle (ROV) hanger is open with the ROV inside.
The critical part of the works included temporarily suspending 7 of the 9 oil wells in the Laminaria-Corallina oil fields. Two of the 9 wells in the oil fields were already suspended. Temporarily suspending the 7 wells involved:
The other part of the campaign involved flushing of nearly 30 km of pipeline, including subsea umbilicals, risers and flowlines. Over 4,000 m3, or 4 million litres of seawater treated to prevent corrosion and biological growth was flushed through the pipelines. This is the equivalent of nearly 2 Olympic swimming pools.
Staff aboard the light well intervention vessel, the Sapura Constructor, prepare to install a barrier on the East Corallina 1 oil well. The barrier temporarily suspends the well preventing fluids escaping to the surface.
Flushing ensures the pipelines are clear of hydrocarbons and hazardous materials before disconnecting the FPSO. The FPSO will be disconnected in the second half of 2025 with all disconnection and towing plans currently being settled.
Finishing this well suspension and flushing campaign is a major step in allowing the FPSO to be safely disconnected from the subsea infrastructure without leaking fluids into the ocean. More work will take place in later phases of the program to permanently plug and abandon the wells.
