Rigless Conductor Cutting with xcalibre
AF Claxton removed 24 conductors, including six tie-back wells, using its Xcalibre cutting technology. The conductors were cut two metres below the mudline, with operations performed at depths of up to 206 metres from the wellhead.
About the project
Standard tooling could not meet the required expansion range and internal diameter restrictions. AF Claxton therefore redesigned its XCalibre cutting manipulator, enabling larger conductors to be cut in a single deployment.
- Project type
- Decommissioning
- CustomerAn operator in the Norwegian North Sea
- Water Dept175 m (approx. 574 ft)
- Cut and recovered24 Conductors
- Average multi-string cutting time4 Hours
The challenge
The tie-back wells presented a particular challenge. The cutting manipulator had to pass through a 15-inch restriction before expanding to cut conductors up to 30 inches in diameter. Two cuts were also required, both to be completed in a single deployment.
Operations took place in 175 metres of water, with the deepest cut 206 metres from the wellhead, making these the deepest platform wells cut using XCalibre.
The solution
AF Claxton redesigned the XCalibre cutting manipulator, integrating the inflatable packer system used in its SWAT™ (Suspended Well Abandonment Tool).
The modified tool maintained the required 15-inch outer diameter while providing sufficient expansion to cut the larger conductors in a single deployment. The solution is now being incorporated into the next generation of AF Claxton’s internal cutting tools.