Result
MCGx demonstrated that a 13-well subsea field, already 50% beyond its original 20-year design life, could be safely operated to 2031 while maintaining ALARP risk. The study quantified failure forecasts and optimised intervention spend to AUD $57 million, avoiding premature abandonment worth hundreds of millions in reserves and eliminating over-conservative interventions driven by calendar age rather than degradation.
Problem
Wells designed for 20 years had operated for 30+, accumulating pressure gauge failures, barrier deviations, and legacy anomalies. Integrity risks were perceived to be escalating without quantitative evidence. The operator lacked defensible data to forecast failures, plan spend, or justify continued operation, facing a choice between premature abandonment, blind intervention, or operating without rigorous technical basis.
MCGx Insight
MCGx recognised that calendar age is not a failure mechanism. Barrier audits across 500+ leak-off test signatures revealed functional barriers despite API exceedances. Probabilistic reliability analysis benchmarked against WellMaster and OREDA databases demonstrated the wells remained in their useful life phase, with industry data accurately predicting actual performance, proving old wells do not equal high risk when barriers are managed rigorously.
Proof
MCGx delivered a comprehensive study adopted into the operator’s Well Integrity Management Plan and accepted by NOPSEMA as the basis for continued operation to 2031.