CUSTOMER: BP Chirag platform  Azerbaijan

PROBLEM: Plans to unlock the immense reserves of the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashi (ACG) field entered their next stage following an extensive rig upgrade on the Chirag platform.

The 120,000 barrels per day Chirag platform off the coast of Azerbaijan in the Caspian Sea benefited from the drilling of the first 'extended reach' well.  Such wells involve greater departure distances from the platform to the bottom of the well than conventional developments, calling for specialist techniques and equipment.

SOLUTION: Installation of the new well demanded a reliable and versatile casing cutter, one able to cope with the harsh environment. Casing cutting is a cold cutting technique that produces a precision cut and is vital to the critical path operation since it enables the fitting of both the pack off seals and the wellhead itself. 

Designed by Furmanite, an air-powered, cutting machine was used to avoid the problems and hazards of providing electricity offshore.  Each casing joint was 10.75 inches in diameter, with a wall thickness of 0.75 inches, and made from C110 high-grade carbon steel. The Furmanite machine is mounted on the casing using clamping jaws gripping the casing outside diameter for external cuts and the hub face for internal cuts, eliminating any requirement for hot work. The cut takes approximately 3 hours and a total casing cut can be completed in about 5 hours, including rigging up and rigging down.  Furmanite technicians were on hand to offer additional expertise on-site during the cutting process.

OUTCOME:  The operation was successfully performed as part of the BP-operated project to unlock the immense reserves of the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashi (ACG) field.