Centrica Butch Pilot Hole

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• published: 17 Nov 2015
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Island Offshore made history in September 2015 when they successfully drilled a pilot hole for Centrica Energy by means of open water coil tubing. This technology has never been utilized in the offshore industry before and proves to be a safer and cheaper alternative to traditional drilling using a rig. MOU Island Constructor was given the assignment to drill a shallow gas pilot hole down to 360 meters below mud line at the BUTCH PL 405-field, north of Ekofisk, to log for gas, and plug the pilot hole with cement if gas was discovered. Pilot holes are drilled to reveal shallow gas in the formations in advance of the actual drilling of the production wells. Shallow gas can be described as hidden gas pockets encountered at a depth close to the surface or mudline which can lead to blowout in the early stages of drilling. Island Offshore is the developer and the owner of the technology which is integrated with Baker Hughes’ topside equipment. The aim is to use the same principle within light well intervention, plug and abandonment as well as other types of well intervention. In August 2015 Island Offshore received a technology award for this exact technology during the Deepwater Intervention Forum in Galveston, Texas.