Surface Safety System Enhances Gas Lift Safety and Optimizes Surface Line Architecture on Island Wells

Abstract

The construction of drilling and production facilities for gas lift production and injection wells on artificial Islands provides a significant exposure to risk due to SIMOPS. Specifically, simultaneous drilling operations results in rig skidding operations over/near to live well cellars and production line trenches. This increases the risk of venting significant lift gas volumes to atmosphere in a manned area through dropped objects or other failures.The authors describe a Lift Gas Safety System (LGSS) to be implemented that will prevent venting lift gas during both a dropped object and other unplanned incidents leading to loss of integrity (e.g. ESD). The system also provides benefits through improved annular pressure monitoring (APM) and confining barriers within the wellhead. Outlined is the implementation process by which the system was selected and which subsequently led to optimization of surface facilities from the well cellars through to the production manifold.