Operating Production TLP Drilling Package Reactivation

A major operator engaged Athens Group Services surveyors to reactivate a cold stacked drilling package on a production TLP asset to complete a multi-year offshore drilling campaign. While the TLP continued to produce, the drilling package had been cold stacked for 10 years. Athens Group was engaged at the start of the reactivation program to provide commissioning and acceptance management specialists for the duration of the multi-staged project reactivation plan. 

Athens Group Services surveyors’ project supporting efforts consisted of two parts – remote document review of the commissioning, acceptance, endurance testing plans, and work packages followed by a continuous presence onboard the TLP integrated with operator’s reactivation team. 

During the document review phase, our specialists worked with the operations & engineering project teams to confirm the plan’s compliance with industry standards, best practices, and operators’ contractual requirements, and identified opportunities for improving the quality of all commissioning, system integration, and endurance documents.

While on board, our specialists provided witnessing, advisory, and execution management of commissioning, systems integration, and final endurance testing programs, enabling successful completion of all requirements in the commissioning packs. A project tracking database was created and maintained by Athens Group Services surveyors to ensure the resolution of all tests, commissioning, acceptance issues, and non-conformities. 

During all phases of the project, Athens Group Services surveyors specialists acted as fully integrated operator team members interfacing daily with onboard Well Operations Supervisors, drilling and maintenance supervisors, and project reactivation technical staff to plan daily activities moving forward. During and after each testing activity, our specialists ensured that all test results and non-compliances were discussed, and a resolution plan was created and acceptable to all parties.

As a result of the Athens Group Services surveyors’ participation in the project, the relationship between the drilling contractor, the operator, and OEM equipment providers was maintained in a professional collaborative method.  The impact on contractor resources and delays to critical path production operations was minimized, and outcomes were fit for purpose and acceptable to all parties.