The Development of a Light Well Intervention Ship

Willis, Simone; Campbell, Jock A.

doi:10.2118/60729-ms

“…As far back as 1999 a major study was commissioned by DeepStar to investigate a non-MODU solution, including the use of coiled tubing, Ref. 9. There have been other concepts to do intervention without a MODU, Refs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coiled-Tubing Intervention and Drilling System Using Cost-Effective Vessels

Millheim¹,

Williams²,

Yemington³

2010

Proceedings of SPE/ICoTA Coiled Tubing and Well Intervention Conference and Exhibition

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Deep water and ultra deep water intervention of wet trees has been a huge challenge for oil and gas producers. Currently, the only realistic way to do intervention is to use a conventional Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) or intervention vessel (which is usually a smaller MODU) whether for a simple clean out or re-completing another producing interval. This is an extremely costly venture and the intervention is only scheduled when the economics of the operation are clearly justified.And even when the intervention is approved there is the problem of scheduling a MODU or intervention vessel. Sometimes the intervention can take months before a MODU or intervention vessel is available.There is a new enabling technology, using a Self Standing Riser, (SSR), where a coiled tubing intervention and drilling system could be deployed by a cost effective vessel (not a conventional MODU) with all the coiled tubing and related equipment on the vessel. The SSR design is such that it would attach to the subsea tree and provide the support and a circulation conduit for the coiled tubing to have full circulation capabilities back to the intervention vessel. The vessel, itself, would have station keeping capabilities for a significant period of weather conditions for the Gulf of Mexico. This paper presents the reasons why conventional and subsea coiled tubing approaches have been unable to provide a economically workable solution for coiled tubing intervention and drilling from wet trees in deep water. The paper describes a new system based on a SSR and a cost effective vessel (non MODU) design that could accommodate the coiled tubing equipment, and provide station keeping and support for the operations. The paper will discuss safety issues such as: the reliability and safety of the SSR, well control issues, emergency disconnects, and the event of a drive off by the vessel.Unless, this type of technology is developed and deployed millions of barrels of barrels of oil and gas will remain behind pipe. In other cases, some fields will not be developed because the need for on-going intervention coupled with high capital costs that will not meet the economic threshold to commission the development.

show abstract

Coiled-Tubing Intervention and Drilling System Using Cost-Effective Vessels

Millheim

¹

,

Williams

²

,

Yemington

³

2010

All Days

2

0

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Deep water and ultra deep water intervention of wet trees has been a huge challenge for oil and gas producers. Currently, the only realistic way to do intervention is to use a conventional Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) or intervention vessel (which is usually a smaller MODU) whether for a simple clean out or re-completing another producing interval. This is an extremely costly venture and the intervention is only scheduled when the economics of the operation are clearly justified.And even when the intervention is approved there is the problem of scheduling a MODU or intervention vessel. Sometimes the intervention can take months before a MODU or intervention vessel is available.There is a new enabling technology, using a Self Standing Riser, (SSR), where a coiled tubing intervention and drilling system could be deployed by a cost effective vessel (not a conventional MODU) with all the coiled tubing and related equipment on the vessel. The SSR design is such that it would attach to the subsea tree and provide the support and a circulation conduit for the coiled tubing to have full circulation capabilities back to the intervention vessel. The vessel, itself, would have station keeping capabilities for a significant period of weather conditions for the Gulf of Mexico. This paper presents the reasons why conventional and subsea coiled tubing approaches have been unable to provide a economically workable solution for coiled tubing intervention and drilling from wet trees in deep water. The paper describes a new system based on a SSR and a cost effective vessel (non MODU) design that could accommodate the coiled tubing equipment, and provide station keeping and support for the operations. The paper will discuss safety issues such as: the reliability and safety of the SSR, well control issues, emergency disconnects, and the event of a drive off by the vessel.Unless, this type of technology is developed and deployed millions of barrels of barrels of oil and gas will remain behind pipe. In other cases, some fields will not be developed because the need for on-going intervention coupled with high capital costs that will not meet the economic threshold to commission the development. 2 SPE 130688

show abstract

Proposal and Experimental Trials on an Autonomous Robot for Rigless Well Intervention

Santos

¹

,

Paz

²

,

Krettli

³

et al. 2019

SPE Production &Amp; Operations

1

0

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Summary Well interventions, especially in offshore wells, are costly and usually very time-consuming to conduct. This is related mainly to the need for a rig or a similar unit to perform these operations. In this paper we propose the development of an autonomous robot for rigless well interventions. The robot will be inserted through the tree using a special tool. This proposal will result in significant cost reduction by eliminating the rig when performing light–workover operations in offshore locations. This reduces intervention time because a simpler unit might be used to deploy the robot. Examples of operations that could be performed by the robot are production logging, gas–lift valve replacement, sliding–sleeve opening and closing, and plug insertion or removal. To evaluate this proposal, a conceptual robot was designed. The feasibility of this conceptual robot was evaluated theoretically. After that, a simplified test robot was constructed to test critical aspects experimentally, in laboratories, and in a test well. The traction system, energy storage, and a positioning algorithm were evaluated. In this paper we will outline the intervention strategy proposed, perform a theoretical evaluation of this proposal on the basis of the conceptual robot, and present experimental results obtained with the simplified test robot.

show abstract

The Development of a Light Well Intervention Ship

Abstract: TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435.

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Coiled-Tubing Intervention and Drilling System Using Cost-Effective Vessels

Coiled-Tubing Intervention and Drilling System Using Cost-Effective Vessels

Coiled-Tubing Intervention and Drilling System Using Cost-Effective Vessels

Proposal and Experimental Trials on an Autonomous Robot for Rigless Well Intervention

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About