Oil & gas majors join forces to form Plugging & Abandonment Collaborative Environment (PACE)

With many offshore oil fields reaching the end of their productive lives, operators are preparing to decommission a substantial number of wells in the coming years, with well plugging and abandonment responsible for up to 40% of total decommissioning costs for some operators. This presents significant challenges to both operators and offshore service companies; and PACE has therefore been formed to bring together international companies to increase awareness of the global regulations; understand capabilities of current and emerging technology; share knowledge and experiences to improve operational best practice; and develop cost-effective solutions to common technical challenges.

Following a successful launch meeting, hosted by ExxonMobil in September 2016, PACE is preparing to hold its first meeting in Houston from 7-8 March 2017. Hosted this time by DNV GL, the two-day event will include the opportunity for service companies and vendors to present their new technologies confidentially to an operator panel with the aim of initiating new collaborative opportunities. The second day will see all members and guests brought together for knowledge-sharing presentations, an Operators’ Roundtable, as well as a facilitated discussion on greenfield v. brownfield solutions, focussing on designing for better integrity and reducing P&A costs.

Debbie McIntosh, PACE Network Manager, OTM Consulting, says: “We’re delighted to welcome ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, and Total on board to collaborate with the PACE members on creating value from new technology. There was a real buzz at the launch meeting and we look forward to seeing what collaboration opportunities come out of the upcoming sessions.”

ExxonMobil’s Joseph Witt adds: “September’s launch meeting provided an excellent opportunity to develop relationships with counterparts in other companies, as well as to provide targeted information in a small audience format. Going forward, the dissemination of key cost reduction concepts will hopefully gain critical mass for industry acceptance.”

Sandy Esslemont, CEO of Abrado Wellbore Services comments: “As a growing international service company with a particular focus on reducing the cost of P&A operations for operators, Abrado is excited to be a member of PACE and welcomes the collaborative industry dialogue that such a global network provides.”