Superior Performance Design

Case Studies

Independent well engineering delivered across multiple disciplines. Every engagement, a real client. Every outcome, documented.

Case Studies

Proven in the Field

SPD case studies across well engineering, integrity, P&A, CCS, geothermal and performance. Click any card for the full story.

WELL EXAMINATION

11-Well Drilling Campaign — Framework Built from Scratch

No regulatory framework existed in New Zealand. SPD authored the entire system and delivered all 11 certificates without a single delay to drilling.

11 Wells   500+ Exams   30+ Countries


📍 New Zealand / Asia-PacificRead more →

WELL EXAMINATION

Geothermal Well Examination — Independent Integrity Assessment

A high-value geothermal production well approaching statutory inspection. SPD provided full lifecycle assessment from reservoir to surface, achieving regulatory compliance and supporting extended well life.

Full System Assessment   100% Barriers Reviewed


📍 New Zealand — GeothermalRead more →

WELL EXAMINATION

Offshore 9-Well P&A Platform — Single Campaign Completion

Five producers, two water injectors, two exploration wells on a fixed jacket. PWC technology applied, 18 rig days saved, delivered 12% under AFE.

9 Wells   PWC Applied   12% Under AFE


📍 Fixed Jacket, 120m Water DepthRead more →

RISK ASSESSMENT

104 Orphaned Wells — National P&A Risk Ranking for Govt. Regulator

150 years of drilling history, no responsible parties, extreme data gaps. SPD built a 26-attribute risk ranking tool and delivered individual abandonment strategies for every well.

104 Wells   14 Priority   5 Risk Cats


📍 New Zealand (Govt. Regulator)Read more →

RISK ASSESSMENT

Well Integrity Assessment & Portfolio Management

Large portfolio of ageing wells, successive staff reductions. SPD assessed every well, applied 4-category classification, passed regulatory audit, delivered quantified remediation costs.

Full Portfolio Assessed   4 Categories   Audit Passed


📍 Independent OperatorRead more →

RISK ASSESSMENT

Well Integrity Review — 600+ Offshore Wells

Major operator, 600+ offshore wells, 12 months embedded. Novel rigless inspection technologies, predictive risk database, individual well passports created.

600+ Wells   12 Months   3 Engineers


📍 Offshore OperatorRead more →

P&A / DECOMMISSIONING

Full-Field P&A Study — Well-Specific Designs, Regulatory Submission

Heterogeneous well stock, incomplete cement records. SPD delivered individual designs, assessed rigless options and produced a submission accepted first time.

Full Field   ±30% Cost   Rigless


📍 Onshore OperatorRead more →

P&A / DECOMMISSIONING

Offshore Subsea P&A — 5-Well Abandonment Engineering Study

Five subsea E&A wells, 35m water depth, none meeting abandonment standard. Rig-based approach defined, PWC assessed viable, compliance pathway delivered.

5 Wells   0 Compliant   100% Pathway


📍 Offshore SubseaRead more →

P&A / DECOMMISSIONING

Rigless Well Decommissioning — Platform Wells Study

Two complex dual-completion wells assessed for rigless P&A feasibility. $25.7M savings vs rig on 10-well platform confirmed, OEUK compliant designs.

2 Wells   4 Options   $25.7M Savings


📍 Major Offshore OperatorRead more →

P&A / DECOMMISSIONING

Tigless Well P&A — Offshore Platform

Permanent abandonment of complex platform wells. Rigless feasibility proven with detailed cost sensitivity modelling.

Rigless Proven   OEUK Compliant


📍 Offshore PlatformRead more →

DUE DILIGENCE

Field Acquisition Due Diligence — Hidden Liabilities Uncovered

The vendor’s package understated the integrity position. SPD found undisclosed barrier failures and secured a meaningful purchase price adjustment.

Full Field   30+ Yrs   Price Adj.


📍 Onshore AcquisitionRead more →

DUE DILIGENCE

Exploration Well Review — Farm-in Due Diligence

Farm-in investor commissioned SPD to review a complex deepwater well with a blowout history. Identified 25% cost underestimate, pressure optimism, and PMCD capability gaps.

~25% Cost Underestimate   12+ Risk Findings


📍 Farm-in Investor, Asia-PacificRead more →

MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Drilling Management System — Written from Scratch, Regulator-Ready

No DMS existed. SPD ran discovery workshops, authored a full three-tier document hierarchy accepted by the regulator without material comment.

Full DMS   3-Tier   Accepted


📍 Pre-Campaign OperatorRead more →

MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Well Standards & Guidelines — Full Suite from Scratch

12 standards from design through abandonment. Regulator audit passed first presentation. Collaborative development with operator team.

12 Standards   Full Suite   Audit Passed


📍 Independent OperatorRead more →

MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Geothermal WIMS Review — Independent Third-Party Assurance

Existing WIMS processes not independently validated. SPD identified gaps, reduced well failure rates and delivered updated integrity standard.

All Wells Covered   Failure Rate


📍 Geothermal Operator, Asia PacificRead more →

MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Geothermal WIMS Implementation — 57-Well Portfolio

No centralised system for 57 wells. SPD designed and implemented WIMS, delivered training, achieved 100% compliance verification.

57 Wells   3 Phases   100% Compliance


📍 Geothermal Operator, Asia PacificRead more →

FEASIBILITY STUDY

Well Reactivation & Sidetrack Feasibility — Capital Protected

Multiple candidates looked attractive on paper. SPD screening eliminated the flawed ones. Both recommended wells performed above forecast.

3 Candidates   ±30% Cost   NPV Ranked


📍 Mature Onshore FieldRead more →

FEASIBILITY STUDY

Coiled Tubing Drilling Feasibility — 50+ Well Mature Field

CTD vs conventional assessment on 50+ well field acquired 18 months prior. Sensitivity-driven cost model, ongoing decision framework delivered.

50+ Wells   2 Target Areas   Dual Model


📍 International OperatorRead more →

FEASIBILITY STUDY

CTD vs Tender Assisted Drilling — Independent Cost Comparison

CTD estimate found highly optimistic vs provider’s own data. TAD total $7.54M vs CTD $3.97M optimistic. 6 risk areas assessed.

$3.97M CTD vs $7.54M TAD


📍 Offshore Southeast AsiaRead more →

WELL ENGINEERING

Deepwater Exploration Well Design — Full Engineering from Basis of Design

First deepwater well for independent operator. Shallow hazards, high-pressure gas, new jurisdiction. Zero well control incidents, schedule maintained.

Deepwater HPHT   Zero Incidents   Regulatory Permits


📍 Independent E&P OperatorRead more →

WELL ENGINEERING

HPHT Well Design — 7,100m TVD, 20,000 psi, 195°C

Extreme conditions deepwater exploration well. 20K wellhead qualification, pre-salt cement, CO₂/H₂S materials selection. Zero NPT from well design.

7,100m TVD   20K psi   195°C


📍 Deepwater Exploration OperatorRead more →

WELL ENGINEERING

Challenging Onshore Well Design — Narrow Margin, Sour Gas

Naturally fractured overburden, narrow pore-frac window, H₂S. MPD assessed, NACE compliance verified, zero well control incidents on execution.

Full H₂S NACE   MPD Assessed   Zero Incidents


📍 Independent Onshore OperatorRead more →

WELL ENGINEERING

Granite Basement Appraisal — Integrated Design & Project Management

Horizontal appraisal well, semi-submersible, ESP DST, >$3MM cost savings. Environmentally sensitive location, reactivated rig, exceptionally hard drilling.

>$3MM Savings   DST Delivered   Zero Downtime


📍 Offshore AppraisalRead more →

CARBON & CCS

CO₂ Injection Well Design Study — Carbon Storage Development

Two-well CO₂ storage programme. Eight engineering disciplines, ±40% Level 1 costs, specialist cement and metallurgy for 50+ year lifecycle.

2 Wells   8 Disciplines   ±40% Cost


📍 Carbon Storage DevelopmentRead more →

CARBON & CCS

CO₂ Injection Well Engineering — CCS Development

New entrant CCS developer. Full CO₂-specific well engineering, regulatory submission approved, suspended well reuse confirmed unsuitable.

50+ Years Lifecycle   Regulatory Approved


📍 New Entrant CCS DeveloperRead more →

CARBON & CCS

Gas Storage Well Conversion — Feasibility to FEED

Depleted onshore gas field converted to storage facility. 14 wells designed, 500 MMscf capacity, first gas injection in 18 months.

14 Wells   500 MMscf   18mo First Gas


📍 Onshore Storage OperatorRead more →

CARBON & CCS

Well Integrity & Abandonment Technology Survey

198-page global trend survey. 50+ technologies assessed, multi-jurisdictional regulatory comparison, three CO₂ QRA methods evaluated.

198 Pages   50+ Technologies   3 QRA Methods


📍 Major National Energy OrganisationRead more →

GEOTHERMAL

Geothermal Well Engineering — Production & Reinjection Programme

New production and reinjection wells for field expansion. Zero HSE incidents, all wells drilled to target, LCM programme managed losses.

High Temp Service   Zero HSE   On-Site Engineers


📍 Geothermal DeveloperRead more →

PERFORMANCE

Drilling Campaign Performance Review — NPT Reduction

Multi-well campaign reviewed. NPT root causes identified and quantified, global benchmarking applied, improvement plan integrated into next campaign.

Multi-Well Campaign   Global Benchmarks   NPT Quantified


📍 Development OperatorRead more →

PERFORMANCE

Drilling Performance Improvement — Record Campaign

Record drill times achieved. SPD reviewed 7 focus areas, resolved 4 well issues, benchmarked against global best-in-class.

Record Drill Time   7 Review Areas   Next Campaign


📍 Confidential OperatorRead more →

PERFORMANCE

Major Operator, New Zealand — Offshore Integrated Project Management

6+ wells over 18 months, two simultaneous rigs, ERD development wells. Zero safety incidents, zero equipment delays, well-on-well improvement.

6+ Wells   18 Months   2 Rigs


📍 Major Operator, New ZealandRead more →

PERFORMANCE

Stuck Pipe Root Cause Investigation — Offshore Indonesia

Root cause confirmed (cuttings pack-off during total fluid loss), 3 contributing factors identified, 4 key lessons delivered, procedural updates recommended.

Root Cause Confirmed   3 Factors   4 Lessons


📍 Natuna Sea, IndonesiaRead more →

PERFORMANCE

Drilling Programme Contracting — KPI Frameworks

Full contracting suite from scratch. Multi-contract categories managed, KPI-driven performance framework changed contractor behaviour from day one.

Full Suite Contracts   KPI Driven


📍 Multi-Contract Drilling ProgrammeRead more →