Zenith Energy has completed a plug and abandonment project for Rockhopper Exploration’s platform well in offshore Italy.

The company provided engineering and project management services to Rockhopper’s Ombrina Mare development well.

Zenith’s operation involved re-entry to the existing well that is located at an unmanned platform.

Other services included bullheading operations, removal of completion, casing and wellhead equipment, and the setting of permanent barrier cement plugs.

"They have achieved our objectives of permanently abandoning the Ombrina Mare well."

Zenith Energy operations director Chris Collie said: “We have safely and efficiently completed our first offshore well management project, which was planned and executed by a small but highly experienced team within a five-month period.

“Our team planned and executed operations within AFE and the project involved all operations that you would typically expect in a well abandonment, slick line, wireline, Xmas tree removal, cementing, cutting and pulling casing and removal of topside wellhead equipment in a well with high concentrations of H2S and A annulus pressure issues.”

The company used the Atwood Beacon jack-up drilling rig to complete the operations.

Rockhopper Exploration COO Fiona MacAulay said: “Zenith provided Rockhopper with the well engineering personnel to plan and manage our well abandonment operation, and they have achieved our objectives of permanently abandoning the Ombrina Mare well.

“They integrated well with the Rockhopper team and provided a first-class team of engineers to deliver the project safely and within budget.”