Equinor – AKOFS Seafarer – Planning & Implementation of Well Intervention Activities

The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) has carried out an audit of Equinor and their planning and implementation of well intervention activities on AKOFS Seafarer. The audit was conducted from 23 May to 1 June 2022.

The audit was focused on the coiled tubing operations that Equinor is to carry out using AKOFS Seafarer in 2022.

Objective
The objective of the audit was to verify that Equinor, AKOFS Offshore and the suppliers in Equinor's framework contracts meet the requirements for planning and executing well intervention operations, so as to reduce the probability of failure, hazard and accident situations.

Furthermore, we wanted to verify how Equinor has secured the involvement of AKOFS and its suppliers, and the safeguarding of the working environment, well integrity and safety when undertaking intervention activities.

There was also an objective of verifying that there was sufficient capacity and competence in the planning and implementation phases of the well intervention activities.

Result

The audit identified two non-conformities. These concerned:
• Deficient risk assessment in the event of accidental activation of riser weak links
• Deficient establishment and follow-up of competence requirements within well control

We also identified improvement points in the following areas:
• Design of well control procedure
• Offshore organization chart does not correspond with operational reporting line

What happens now?
We have asked Equinor to report to us by 1 September 2022 on how the non-conformities will be addressed, and for their assessment of the improvement points observed.