For new High-Pressure High-Temperature (HPHT) subsea technologies deployed in the United States Gulf of Mexico (GoM), the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) currently requires an Independent Third Party (I3P) review of the design and qualification. When these technologies are developed through a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) and involve a significant scope of new product development, the I3P review can become complex, and a lengthy endeavor. This paper outlines the management lessons learned through a case study of an I3P review performed on a JDA for subsea HPHT production equipment. In 2014, an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and four Operators formed a JDA to develop new subsea production technologies for use in the GoM. The OEM has designed the JDA equipment suitable for 20 ksi / 350°F operation subsea, and performed activities to verify and validate the design. An I3P began reviewing the OEM's JDA work in 2016 to verify it meets the acceptance criteria established by industry standards, practices and procedures. Key management lessons from the JDA I3P review's organization, methodology, and practices were studied from an Operator's perspective. This paper describes the selection of the I3P for the JDA. The selection criterion includes the I3P's qualifications, experience, and resource availability. This paper identifies critical leadership attributes required of the I3P review participants: enforcing ground rules; using a common language across the teams; and deploying robust performance management tools. These attributes drive the convergence of the OEM and I3P review activities. Also discussed, are the importance of a mature OEM document register for timeliness and completeness of document availability for I3P review, and the need for streamlined procedures with a collaborative working approach to manage Findings from the I3P review. It discusses the value of standardizing I3P review reports, to convey the results of verification and validation activities to BSEE clearly and concisely. The paper concludes with identifying some pitfalls to be aware of when executing an I3P review. The results of studying an ongoing JDA I3P review as described in this paper provide useful guidance for Operators or OEMs in planning and executing I3P reviews of HPHT technology development programs. The case study's key lessons can aid others to implement an I3P review effectively and efficiently for BSEE's acceptance of new HPHT technology.
Anadarko started the initial development and qualification of 20 ksi equipment in 2013 for a Gulf of Mexico (GoM) project. That journey included an analysis of using depth-adjusted working pressure of 15 ksi equipment that allowed exploration and appraisal drilling of a high-pressure GoM prospect. It continued with the goal to develop and qualify a complete set of 20 ksi equipment for a deepwater GoM high-pressure development. The scope of development and qualification of High-Pressure, High-Temperature (HPHT) equipment included: 20 ksi deepwater Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU); 20 ksi subsea Blowout Preventer (BOP); 20 ksi Completions equipment for the upper completion including a subsurface safety valve, packers, chemical injection, wireline plugs, etc.; 20 ksi Intervention equipment including a thru-riser intervention string, a Tree Tieback Tool, workstring connection and an Integrated Workover Control System (IWOCS); 20 ksi Subsea Production equipment including wellhead, tree and a High Integrity Pressure Protection System (HIPPS). Anadarko formed the ‘20A project team’ initiative in order to qualify these critical deepwater components with a Rated Working Pressure (RWP) greater than 15 ksi. This project is coming to a close in 2019, with the qualification of over 200 components and assemblies to industry standards and meeting U.S. government requirements. This six year development journey of 20 ksi equipment development and qualification presented challenges and achieved breakthrough technologies for the industry. This journey, its organizational approach using systems engineering techniques and integration processes are presented.
Summary BP and Maersk Drilling entered into a unique collaborative arrangement in early 2013 to develop the design for a deepwater drilling rig that is specifically aimed at conducting operations on wells with greater than 15,000 psi pressures. This paper describes how this collaborative effort was conducted. Operator and contractor each contributed expertise and information to the project and defined a joint vision of transforming how functional requirements are set and how the design of this rig would be developed. A set of relationship principles was agreed and a joint project team was formed in Houston with engineering support from contrator's technical organization in Copenhagen. An executive committee, with senior leadership from each organization, was established to provide guidance, challenge and governance. To start the design process, workflow during the well construction process was layered on top of the foundational requirements of operator's prospect inventory. Starting with a cleaner sheet of paper, the integrated team's conversations focused on inherently safer design and improving operability, efficiency, maintainability and reliability. The initial focus was on innovation and possibilities before driving toward agreement on the functional specification and rig design. The team strove to address challenges faced in the deepwater drilling industry today, at the same time continually testing their ideas for benefit. After more definition work, the opportunities were run through a detailed evaluation model to inform selection of design features and potential equipment suppliers. Major equipment suppliers and operator service companies have assisted with the development of rig functional requirements and the shipyard specification. Operator and contractor contributed their learning from previous rig builds, intakes and operation including five and ten year re-certifications into the design. Supplier selection for long lead technology development and qualification of equipment commenced in 2013 and is expected to culminate with a yard selection in 2015. As a result of this collaboration, operator and contractor better understand the needs and drivers of each other's business and have leveraged this knowledge into a more effective working relationship. Significant work remains to construct the rig and deliver it into operation. However, there is a strong belief this next generation deepwater drilling rig will provide enhanced capability, performance and value to both operator and contractor.
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.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
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.