Our client was scheduled to drill a platform well using a jack-up rig in the Timor Sea, in addition they also needed to re-enter a nearby subsea well. A separate semi-sub rig would traditionally be contracted, as semi-sub rigs are associated with subsea wells. However, our client wondered if it would be possible to utilise a jack-up rig already under contract on a nearby operation. If this was possible, it would mean significant cost savings for their project as a result of not needing to contract a secondary rig.
Major operations on subsea wells in the Timor Sea are typically performed using a semi-sub rig. However, using a semi-sub in shallower waters can often be challenging for operators when trying to keep project costs down, as operating windows are limited to smaller wave heights only and fatigue damage of subsea equipment is typically higher. We investigated whether our client could use the jack-up rig already under contract for operations over a platform to re-enter a nearby subsea well.