KCA DEUTAG, Aker Solutions help EnQuest reach 5 years free of LTIs

EnQuest PLC, the largest UK independent production company in the UK North Sea, has reached a new North Sea safety milestone by recording five years free of lost-time incidents (LTIs) on drilling operations in the Thistle field.

Supported by a KCA DEUTAG drill crew, an Aker Solutions well services crew and other offshore contractors, EnQuest’s drilling team have taken Thistle from a rig upgrade to rig start up, followed by two-and-a-half years of drilling operations involving workovers, sidetracks and the installation of three electrical submersible pumps.

The LTI achievement covers a period of major operational activity, which saw EnQuest bring Thistle drilling back online to drill its first new wells in 20 years.

“EnQuest‘s principal aim is to deliver safe results, and this is a great example of how collaboration underpinned by a robust safety culture can achieve exceptional performance safely,” David Heslop, general manager at EnQuest, said. “Over one million man hours have been worked during the five years without an LTI, which is an outstanding achievement under any circumstances but particularly given the challenges our team has faced in bringing Thistle drilling back online.”