HWU: An Alternative Approach to Well Repairs/Re-completion in Offshore West Africa – A Case Study With Ghana Saltpond Wells

Abstract

fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractThis paper is a case study of the workover operations initially slated for three Saltpond wells located in the offshore coast of Ghana (Gulf of Guinea). The operation was the first Hydraulic Workover Operation (HWO) offshore West Africa. Hitherto, HWO operations in West Africa (precisely in Nigeria) have been restricted to swamp and land locations for the past five years . Due to the pioneering nature of the project, a lot of challenges were anticipated especially in the area of equipment mobilization, logistics, space management and equipment rig up in an offshore platform. These expectations necessitated a site visit to evaluate prevailing operational conditions on the platform. The information gathered was factored in at the planning stage of the project. This paper will attempt to review the challenges and cost effectiveness of this project, against the backdrop of utilizing conventional alternatives. It will also highlight the basic facilities required in an offshore platform to make the use of HWU in well repairs/re-completion an alternative and cost saving approach in offshore environments.