Well integrity/control

Helix Strikes Deal for Fast Response System in US Gulf

Contractor renews incident-response partnership for 2 additional years.

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The Q4000 is a DP3 semisubmersible vessel purpose-built for well intervention and construction in water depths to 10,000 ft.
SOURCE: Helix

Marine services provider Helix Energy Solutions Group has entered into a new agreement for use of its well-control response resources with HWCG LLC.

Under the agreement, HWCG’s members are given the opportunity to identify the Helix Fast Response System as a resource in permit applications to US federal and state agencies, and to deploy the system to respond to a well-control incident in the US Gulf of Mexico.

HWCG is a consortium of Gulf producers that came together post BP’s April 2010 Macondo blowout to expand capabilities to quickly respond to a subsea well-containment event. Members include Eni, Repsol, Murphy, Kosmos Energy, LLOG, W&T Offshore, and others.

Under the terms of the agreement, HWCG will pay Helix an annual retention fee and HWCG’s members will receive a credit against that fee for every day that a member utilizes the Q4000 or Q5000. The agreement replaces the parties’ prior agreement and is effective 1 April 2021 for an initial 2-year term.

Developed in 2011, the Helix Fast Response System comprises the Helix Producer I floating production unit, Q4000 or Q5000 vessels, subsea intervention systems, crude transfer systems and other well control equipment.