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.