Result
MCGx developed and deployed a Well Commissioning Acceptance Criteria framework, guiding operations through day-to-day commissioning of two critical offshore gas wells delivering 400 MMscf/d combined. The work contributed to bringing the project in US$200 million under budget and established a commissioning standard now used across the operator’s global well portfolio.
Problem
Open hole gravel pack gas wells face catastrophic failure risk if sand control degrades undetected during commissioning. Traditional start-ups relied on individual judgment rather than objective criteria, creating pressure to rush through uncertainty or over-react to normal behaviour, risking either completion failure or extended production delays.
MCGx Insight
MCGx recognised that commissioning risk isn’t managed through speed; it’s managed through patience and structure. Wells communicate their health through flow stability, annulus response, and solids behaviour, but only if given time to reveal it. By guiding operations through 13 formalised acceptance criteria, commissioning decisions became evidence-based, enabling confident decisions under pressure.
Proof
MCGx guided both wells through commissioning to stable production without breaching integrity limits. The WCAC framework was adopted as the operator’s global standard and remains in continuous use today.