Drilling

BSEE requires the contractor to evaluate and catalogue the various operational performance capabilities and limitations of downhole surveying technology/tools; identify the current best practices, evaluate these technologies and practices; and propose improvements to BSEE regulations as related to wellbore surveying technology associated with surveying accuracy and survey management, as well as relief well/well intersection operations.

The purpose of this study was to determine the state-of-the-art of Capping Stack technologies. The assessment determined the differences between capping stacks currently in use by industry in the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska and overseas. This study also conducted an assessment of the current capping stack standards, compiled a list of recommended Potential Incidents of Non Compliance (PINC) with criteria and guidelines for design, manufacture, maintenance, and inspection of Capping Stacks that could be incorporated into BSEE regulations.

The selection and effective qualification of new and existing materials, fluids and drilling methodologies commonly used in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) and the North Sea (NS) shall be re-evaluated to take into consideration the `cycles' in the temperature and extreme conditions in the arctic.  The new technologies to be addressed shall include but not be limited to metallic materials (both solid and cladded materials), polymers, reinforced composites, fluids, and the different drilling methodologies.

This study is to identify automated well safety technologies with the potential to increase safety during Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) drilling, well completion, well work over and production operations, as well as to assess early well kick detection approaches, equipment, techniques, and systems associated with drilling operations in the OCS.

NAS is to explore how real-time monitoring technology can improve offshore drilling, workover, completion and production safety operations; and the implication that technology has BSEE's regulatory and oversight roles.

The proposed work is largely a paper study intended to provide a gap analysis in regulations and create a plan for reducing (and even eliminating) some of these gaps.

This proposed research will address the issue of OCS stimulation operations and cement/casing integrity. The proposed work fully covers the issue from fundamental research, to engineering, to field application. Strong emphasis is placed on regulation and control of well construction and stimulation processes as well as the impact of new or additional regulation on safety and environmental protection. Operational difficulties of new regulation will be identified along with methods to mitigate operational or enforcement concerns.

The Key objectives of the project are as follows: Assess the potential for a new design of blind shear rams. Assess a BOP stack configuration to enable the reduction of the potential for unsupported pipe in the BOP bore and increase the possibility that pipe shear will be successful. To evaluate new design methods for detecting failure and monitoring of BOP components and control systems using the latest technology in order to prevent failure. To explore the reliability of an independent complete acoustic package for functioning a short BOP deployed in deep water.

The scope project is aimed at:

The research will identify the current cementing practices in the OCS and analyze them to determine the best practices based on technical justification. Practices which pretense safety risks will be identified and safer alternatives will be proposed. Recommendations will be made for additional research in areas for which no acceptably safe methods exist.

The deliverables for this project include monthly progress reports, a progress report at the end of each task, a draft report, a final report, and a MS Access database of the best practices identified in this effort.