Abu Dhabi headquartered Gulf Marine Services (GMS) has entered into a partnership with Norway-based Dwellop for well intervention and workover operations, with its sights set on capturing new markets in the sector.
The partnership brings together GMS’ experience in self elevating service vessel construction and operation and Dwellop’s expertise in topside systems for well intervention and workover.
The result of this collaboration is an innovative cantilever system for the vessels that will provide GMS’ current and prospective clients with new cost-effective solutions for work that has traditionally been performed by more expensive non-propelled drilling rigs.
The parties have entered into a three-year exclusive agreement for cantilever solutions for the GMS SESVs. The first two cantilever solutions are scheduled for delivery in 2016. The first system will be for well intervention with wireline and coiled tubing, the second, ready for operation at the end of 2016, will be equipped with the workover rig. This complete system is designed to perform operations such as plugging and abandonment, light drilling, change out of submerged pumps and completions.
Duncan Anderson, CEO at GMS, says: “GMS operates in mature oil fields where a significant amount of workover activity is still undertaken by drilling rigs. GMS vessels are already able to move more rapidly between surface well heads than these relatively cumbersome and costly drilling rigs. As part of our strategy to maintain our high utilization levels and grow our fleet further, we have developed with Dwellop a cantilever solution that will allow us to supplant the drilling rigs with our self-propelled SESVs, thereby providing cost savings and further reductions in non-productive time for our clients.”
Dwellop, formerly a Rolls-Royce Marine company, is a reputed designer and supplier of topside handling systems for well intervention. The rig and equipment covered by this agreement was developed under the quality requirement of Rolls-Royce. “The technology is proven and was developed for the harsh environment of the North Sea. The first rig was delivered to Talisman. This new partnership with GMS marks the first step of our growth strategy to enter into new markets globally.” says Helge Hustoft, CEO at Dwellop.
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