Minerals Management Service

The objective of this project is to develop a better understanding of the performance of the casing-cement bond under HPHT well conditions leading to a model to predict well life.

Project Goals:

Description of the importance of cement fatigue to the life of HPHT wells

Lab procedures and prototype test cell to measure the performance of cement in cyclic loading under HPHT conditions

Model to predict life of HPHT wells

Recommendation for further work

The objective of this research project is to assess potential methods for improving safety on drilling and production vessels and platforms operating in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas and experiencing superstructure icing. The goals are: To identify ice protection technologies currently in use on marine structures, evaluate their effectiveness for enhancing operational safety and define critical superstructure icing needs.

The objective of this research project is to develop methods for quantifying the occurrence and severity of sea spray icing on oil exploration and drill rigs in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. The goal is to provide algorithms for processing weather data to determine sea spray icing severity on offshore structures.

The project deliverables are:

Task 1. Summary of spray icing data sets

Task 2. Interim report on calculations using Cook Inlet weather data

Task 3. Interim report on spray icing events

In August and September 2005 Hurricanes KATRINA and RITA came through two of the main exploration and production areas of the Gulf of Mexico. These hurricanes permanently removed five jackups from service, with damage sustained to another 13+. A total of 23 jackups are said to have sustained minor to extensive damage. Early reports indicated 19 MODUS became adrift (both jackups and semi-submersibles). Several of those were swept away and floated through the important oil and gas infrastructure of the GOM prior to grounding or being taken under tow.

The objective of this study was to develop design review recommendations for the connection hardware used for TLPs and similar structures such as mini-TLPs at the tops and bottoms of the tendons.

This project investigated the accuracy of non-invasive deepwater subsea inspections performed by common ROV-supported inspection tools and provided a comprehensive assessment of the knowledge gained from recent work on subrope behavior.

The objectives were:

This research project will assess the feasibility of a marine oil spill countermeasure strategy based on the stimulation of oil-mineral aggregate (OMA) formation. Experiments will be conducted on both laboratory and wave tank systems under controlled conditions to evaluate its potential effectiveness for the treatment of oil spills from ships, facilities or pipelines. Conceptual mathematical models will be developed from the data to identify the fundamental processes affecting operational effectiveness as a means to provide guidance for field operations.

A number of cold region offshore developments have been carried out or are planned worldwide, including Sakhalin Island (Russia), Kashagan (Caspian), Shtokman (Barents Sea) as well as in the Beaufort Sea (Northstar, PanArctic Drake). An understanding of these analogue projects, as well as those already operational or planned for the United States (e.g., Northstar and Oooguruk), will provide insight and guidance into potential exploration and development technologies that might be applied to cold regions of the Outer Continental Shelf.

This project is a material testing program to enable operators to safely produce oil and gas from high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) and sour HPHT reservoirs. Completion of the testing program will support more widespread development of HPHT and sour HPHT reserves by providing designers with some of the material property data necessary to perform design verification analyses in accordance with American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice 6HP (API RP 6HP).

Based on studies sponsored by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and Minerals Management Service (MMS) prior to 2008, between 25% to 33% of remaining undeveloped reservoirs were unfavorable using conventional overbalanced drilling methods due in large to the increased likelihood of well control problems such as differential sticking, lost circulation, kicks, and blowouts. The challenge before industry was to develop an efficient method to drill and develop these reservoirs in a manner that is no less safe than current drilling methods.