Surface BOP: Equipment Development for Extending the Water Depth Capability of a D.P. Semisubmersible to 10,000 ft and beyond.

Field: Engineering (Physical Sciences)

Surface BOP: Equipment Development for Extending the Water Depth Capability of a D.P. Semisubmersible to 10,000 ft and beyond. Graham Brunt; Graham Brunt Stena Drilling Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Scott Elson; Scott Elson Nautronix Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Tim Newman; Tim Newman Shell International E&P Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Paul Toudouze Paul Toudouze Cameron Project Management Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Paper presented at the IADC/SPE Drilling Conference, Dallas, Texas, March 2004. Paper Number: SPE-87109-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/87109-MS Published: March 02 2004 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Get Permissions Search Site Citation Brunt, Graham, Elson, Scott, Newman, Tim, and Paul Toudouze. "Surface BOP: Equipment Development for Extending the Water Depth Capability of a D.P. Semisubmersible to 10,000 ft and beyond.." Paper presented at the IADC/SPE Drilling Conference, Dallas, Texas, March 2004. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/87109-MS Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll ProceedingsSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)SPE/IADC Drilling Conference and Exhibition Search Advanced Search AbstractThe water depth operating capability of a dynamically positioned semisubmersible drilling rig normally rated for 8,100 feet, has been extended to beyond 10,000 feet by deployment of a Surface BOP, a 13 3/8" casing riser and a Subsea Disconnect System (SDS). The rig and equipment package has recently successfully drilled an exploration well in 9,474 feet water depth, representing a new record for both the operator and the host country Brazil.This paper focuses on the 5 main features of the equipment concept, design, development and deployment:Setting Up the Operator-Service Provider Joint Team and Alignment of GoalsDefining the Functional RequirementsCombination New Technology and Off The Shelf ComponentsDescription of System Units: Surface BOP, Subsea Disconnect System, Surface and Subsea Control Systems and Acoustic Digital Spread Spectrum system (ADS2).Rig InterfacesThe paper describes the output from early hazard assessment exercises used to define the basic design parameters, the selection of appropriate acoustic communication technology to provide the opportunity for future developments, risks and how they were managed, Integration Testing and Deployment.1. BackgroundShell Brazil, the operator required to drill a well in 9,474 feet water depth offshore Brazil, Campos basin block BM-C-10. Using conventional drilling techniques and with no suitably rated rig available in the region, this would necessitate a costly mobilization. In addition the operator had the Stena Tay, a 4th generation semisubmersible rated for 8,100 feet water depth, already operating in Brazil on a long term contract.The combination of these two factors led the operator to conclude that application of Surface BOP technology was an economically attractive method to extend the operating envelope for the rig Stena Tay from 8,100 feet to 10,000 feet.Numerous Surface BOP operations have been successfully carried out since the technique was first pioneered in Nigeria's EA field in 1967, the drilling vessels employed for these operations have been exclusively of the moored type. The water depth of 9,474 feet at the BM-C-10 location and rig availability excluded mooring as an option.In order to drill the well using a dynamically positioned vessel and a Surface-BOP, a means of safely disconnecting from the well would be essential.Several concepts for subsea disconnection systems had been proposed. Operators, equipment manufacturers and drilling contractors had explored various configurations. However none of these concepts had been developed.Due to exploration licence expiry constraints, only 7 months were available to design, manufacture and test the Subsea Disconnect System and associated Surface BOP equipment.2. Building the TeamPrior to the decision to proceed and build the Surface BOP equipment set the operator had selected an equipment manufacturer to perform a feasibility study. The objectives of the study were to determine the optimum configuration for a Subsea Disconnect System. The main design criteria being:HSE performance must be equal to or exceeding conventional systemsMinimize equipment cost and rig handling timeControl weight and size to eliminate any requirement to remove existing conventional rig equipment. Keywords: application, configuration, specification, equipment manufacturer, drilling equipment, well control equipment, surface bop, valve, deployment, water depth Subjects: Drilling Equipment, Well control equipment This content is only available via PDF. 2004. IADC/SPE Drilling Conference You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.