For operators, plug and abandonment (P&A) is one of the most significant and resource-intensive activities at the end of field life. In Equinor, the goal was to maximise the number of wells that could be safely P&A’d before cessation of production (CoP), while minimising disruption to ongoing production.

The scheduling challenge was multi-layered: rigs and pulling units had to be sequenced and batched efficiently across shafts, while integrating with interventions, maintenance, and project work. Seasonal weather constraints, people-on-board limits, and uncertainty in task durations added further complexity.

Beyond the technical hurdles, there was also a cultural shift: after decades of focusing on maximising production, teams needed to adapt to a CoP-driven mindset, where safe and efficient abandonment became the new priority.