As the exploration and development of offshore energy reserves moves into ever deeper waters, the use of Dynamically Positioned (DP) vessels to undertake drilling and/or completion work is being considered as an alternative to the more traditional methods. The use of DP vessels is perceived as introducing the additional risk associated with the potential loss of station keeping during drilling or completion operations. At least one major operator is now assessing this risk and the corresponding consequences as part of the decision making process.This paper illustrates a recent study that considered a variety of deepwater completion operations by examining the following key features of the project. • The basis for the risk analysis.• The collection of input data for the model, including the contribution of expert opinion provided by Completion Engineers and DP experts. • The methodology adopted to evaluate the risk costs associated with individual operations. • The interpretation of the model outputs.Finally, examples of points at which the model may be of use within the decision making process throughout the deepwater development cycle are provided.
The deepwater drilling industry has been rocked by the tragic Deepwater Horizon event in the Gulf of Mexico. The incident identified a number of possible failings by operator, service contractors and the regulator which combined to lead to the ultimate results which were evident in mid 2010. This paper will assess the options available to the deepwater drilling industry in assessing the risk of various riser and BOP configurations for drilling and completing deepwater wells in moderate metocean environments. The paper will address two different systems:1. A classic subsea BOP stack configuration, 2. A surface BOP stack with a subsea isolation device (SID). Both of these configurations have merits depending upon a number of factors which include rig availability and schedule, project economics, riser integrity, BOP configuration, geological issues and, most importantly, the hazard and risks associated with each concept. This paper will identify the various technical analyses and risk analysis techniques that must be undertaken to assure the operator of the system is comfortable with each system. These include riser analysis, rig mooring and station keeping analyses, system HAZIDs and HAZOPs, and more. The idea of the paper is to provide the operator and drilling contractor with a 'road map' which will allow them to navigate their way through the various issues to be addressed. This road map will start with the concept stage (rig contracting early well planning) where issues such as project economics, rig availability and risk tolerance will provide input into the overall decision making process. The paper will next address the preliminary and detailed design stages where issues surrounding metocean criteria, rig characteristics and rig configuration and geological conditions will play a part in the overall input. The paper will describe how a project team would approach the issues. Finally as the project moves to the implementation stage the paper will describe the techniques for final assurance that the concept can be managed in the implementation stage.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.