Significant currents that affect offshore operations and facility designs exist in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. This project is part of a JIP formed to carry out an integrated study of the seafloor furrows produced by the flow and characteristics of the flow itself. The JIP measured the extent and morphology of the furrows, the sediment properties, and assess the depositional history of the sediments using age-dating and seismic stratigraphic techniques.
JIP workshop on Deepwater Drilling. The workshop was held on June 18 and 19, 2003. The workshop identified 3 areas of interest:
1) Identify and discuss the technical gaps that remain in ultra-deepwater drilling;
2) Discuss the directions that industry needs to take to address these technical gaps, and
3) Identify current deepwater drilling technologies that can be applied to shallow-water and onshore drilling applications.
Project is a JIP with industry and is to develop engineering methodology and risk model for the analysis of submarine slope stability under critical loading conditions. This project is an extension of project 404, Offshore Deep Slopes (PODS) is named Phase II of the earlier project (404). Phase II of the study focused on physical and numerical modeling aspects. Additionally, results were analyzed, along with further development of a risk framework suited to the offshore environment.
This project collected and assessed information on the performance of deepwater production facilities that were impacted by Hurricane Lili (2002). This study formed the basis for developing recommendations for improvement in design and operation of installations such as:
vortex-induced vibration of risers, loss of air gap with wave loading on decks, tension leg platform TLP performance, and Spar performance measurements.
The Gulf of Mexico Hydrates JIP, in collaboration with NETL/DOE, is investigating naturally occurring gas hydrates in the GOM.
The goals of the JIP include:
The project was to complete a technical assessment of present and future AUV/ROV capabilities relevant to subsea deepwater oil and gas developments. ROVs and AUVs offer considerable promise for subsea development systems in deep and ultra-deep water. The ROV and AUV technology is rapidly evolving in a highly competitive marketplace. The ROV/AUV technology must interface with subsea well and production equipment, which is also rapidly evolving, in order to result in effective subsea development systems.
Offshore Technology Research Center, with assistance from the Offshore Operators Committee, conducted this project for the Minerals Management Service. The goal of the project was to complete a technical assessment of options for handling associated gas for deepwater oil developments in the Gulf of Mexico. The MMS plans to use the results to review the readiness and safety of gas handling options proposed for deepwater development projects. Results would also be useful for studies pertaining to deepwater oil and gas development in the Gulf of Mexico.
During the last 10 years, the offshore industry has shown an increasing interest in suction anchors so there is a need to calibrate safety factors for suction anchors. Suction anchors continued to be first choice, but drag-in plate anchors emerged as a potential alternative 5 years ago, especially by Petrobras in Brazil. This JIP objectives were:
Structural reliability analysis for calibration of a design code for design of suction anchors,
Develop design code for suction anchors and describe a model for use in the reliability analysis,
This is a proprietary Join Industry Project with the task of understanding of hydrate conditions in pipelines and risers. This study will develop modeling analysis to help predict and prevent hydrate flow problems.
The majority of pipeline design codes are based on stress-based design methods. Although conventional stress-based design covers most pipeline applications, it does not cover the design of pipelines that may experience high strains like those of the deepwater GOM and Arctic regions. Similarly, high strains can occur to most any offshore pipeline due to ground movement, unsupported spanning, and seismic loading therefore an exacting site-specific analysis including loading conditions and material mechanical properties is needed to maintain the acceptable level of pipeline safety needed.
