39 / 56
Leonardo Portillo, Gary Barbee and Andy Cuthbert, Boots & Coots,
USA,
recount an emergency well intervention operation in West Africa.
well inWest Africa had been drilled in close proximity to a
populated swamp area, on the banks of an existing river with a
single estuary access that is used as amainwaterway for
transportation by local communities (Figure 1). Originally drilled in 1994 to
a depth of 8966 ft on a single-well platform, thewell had been shut-in since
1998 and securedwith a backpressure valve (BPV).
In 2Q19, suspected third-party tampering of the installed barriers on
thewellhead led to an uncontained release of hydrocarbons fromthewell
that spilled into the river channel. The resulting environmental problem
and fire threatened both the homes and livelihoods of the nearby villagers
(Figure 2).
The operator implemented their emergency response plan and
contactedBoots &Coots. Well control specialistswere immediately
dispatched fromHouston, Texas, US, to the remote location inWest Africa.
The first responders fromBoots &Coots arrived on scene andmade an
initial assessment, supplemented by helicopter flyovers. They confirmed
that thewellhead and platform jacket were fully engulfed in fire fromthe
burningwell. Early investigations concluded thatmultiple flanges had also
begun leaking and consequently contributed to the conflagration. Since
thewell wasmidstreamand no dry landwas immediately available near
the location towork on, all operations had to be completed using flat top
barges to convey the equipment and personnel to thewell.
|
37