Research Categories / Drilling

Offshore Operators Committee (OOC) Advanced Well Control Joint Industry Project

This technology provides a method to potentially reduce the environmental impact of a source control incident when capping stacks cannot be deployed. Applicability includes situations when capping stack deployment operations are compromised, e.g., wellhead damage, excessive connection point debris, environmental challenges. The polymer plug well control concept can be used to stop the uncontrolled flow of hydrocarbons to the environment after a loss of well control (LOWC) incident. It could be used as an alternative to capping stacks.

Advanced Casing & Tubing Load and Stress Analysis, Joint Industry Project (JIP)

The purpose of the Joint Industry Project (JIP) is to provide BSEE with a solution to fully analyze well plan and casing design submitted by operators. It is BSEE’s oversight responsibility to ensure a well’s mechanical integrity by validating a design that provides accounts for all the anticipated loads that can be encountered during the life of the well. Therefore, the Contractor shall conduct a research project for the advancement of casing and tubing load analysis that previous tools were not capable.

Examination of Blowout Preventer Pressure Test Frequency

This contract has the following three (3) main objectives: 1) Determining whether the overall BOP system’s reliability is enhanced or degraded by increasing the time interval between the mandatory in-situ pressure tests. 2) Establishing and moderating an ongoing dialogue with industry representatives, who shall inform BSEE of their experiences and results from BOP testing, and their justifications for or against extending testing interval.

Permit Alternative and Assessment Study

To identify and assess alternatives to permits and other submissions for BSEE's essential functional areas that conduct oversight activities through permitting.  These functional areas include: district field operations, regional firled operations, production  and development, technical data management, and safety and environmental management.  CFR Title 30, Part 250 Subparts: A,D,E,F,I,J,K,L, and Q for this effort.

Development of Well Kick Detection and Predictions Options

The purpose of this task is to support the enhancement and improvement of the selection of tools and methods for identifying leading and lagging indicators for well kick detection and prediction. Gather applicable data and independently assess feasibility and reasonability of early well kick detection and prediction approaches, equipment, techniques, and systems associated with well operations on the OCS, primarily Gulf of Mexico (GoM).

Wireline Operations Research

BSEE is seeking contractor support to assess how operators are currently conducting wireline lubricator and wireline BOP testing, what criteria operators consider a successful pressure test, what (if any) lubricator test are being charted, and why operators request a departure from 30 CFR 250.620 (c) which states, “when the lubricator is initially installed on the well, it shall be successfully pressure tested to the expected shut-in surface pressure.” BSEE is also seeking contractor support to provide recommendations in expanding the existing regulations to provide consistent testing and p

Shear Ram Verification Test Protocol (VTP) Best Practices

This document represents Argonne's perspective on testing and reporting criteria for BOP Shear Rams.  These "best practices" are based on current BSEE regulations and can be used by industry to help develop a standardized industry test protocol for US Offshore Continental Shelf operations.

AA - Shear Ram Verification Test Protocol (VTP)

Liner Seal & Cement Studies

The primary objective of this proposal is to study "fitness for service" of the sealing assemblies and cement systems in shallow well designs by conducting scaled laboratory testing, leakage modelling and risk assessment. This project will conduct research to assess best practices and develop recommendations to BSEE and industry on the development of industry standards, regulations, and operational procedures to ensure that current cement system and sealing assemblies are "fit for service" to minimize Loss of Well Control incidents in shallow offshore applications.

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