Drilling

The project reviewed 4 American Petroleum Institutes' (API) Recommended Practices (RP) and IADC's Deepwater Guidelines and compared them against MMS requirements. West also surveyed 20 recent rig assessments to determine compliance with the standards and/or regulations.

The 4 RP's are:

53 -- BOP Systems for Drilling Wells 16E -- Design of Control Systems for Drilling Well Control Equipment 64 -- Diverter System Equipment and Operations 16Q -- Design, Selection, Operation, and Maintenance of Marine Drilling Riser Systems

This project is an attempt to determine if CO is a hazard to OCS workers during well perforating operations. Several people have died during onshore perforating operations, and these deaths may have been caused by CO. A kick-off meeting was held in Camarillo on November 9, 1999. The principal investigator was able to gather information from MMS and State of California personnel, and then speak with lawyers familiar with suits resulting from the onshore deaths.

Cancelled

This JIP developed an improved methodology for pre-drill pore pressure and fracture gradient prediction for deepwater wells. The JIP conducted a detailed geo-pressure analysis of 60 to 80 deepwater wells using all available data. A Multi-disciplinary team studied the results and formulated an improved methodology for predicting pore pressures and fracture gradients. The JIP held forums and training sessions and prepared a reference document to implement the new methodology.

Cancelled

The purpose of the project was to improve the accuracy of casing collapse performance properties. This improvement may allow an opportunity to substantially reduce tubular costs, because the margins of actual collapse performance versus API ratings have been found to be as high as 30-40%. The JIP conducted physical testing on industry-wide sampling of API and proprietary casing grades and reviewed mill production techniques for both API and proprietary grades of casing. Data was analyzed so that participating operators may be able to reduce tubular costs.

This is a JIP designed to disseminate new information to address hazard concerns related to hydrates and to stimulate new research. Objectives of the research include: mapping gas hydrates in geophysical context across the Gulf of Mexico, and analyzing new samples of natural gas hydrate. The focus is on reservoir characterization, the effects of gas hydrates on sea floor stability, and on pipeline plugging and potential rupture.

The project investigated the performance of deepwater subsea BOP systems for drilling rigs operating in the Gulf of Mexico. It examined BOP test data from 83 deepwater wells drilled in water depths of 1,335 to 6,725 feet. It also compared BOP reliability in the Gulf of Mexico to that of other areas, such as the North Sea. The project also looked at the maintenance programs used by several of the deepwater drilling contractors to see how the various programs effect BOP reliability.

This is an assessment of existing or developing technologies that could be used to sense, track, contain and recover oil released by deep water blowouts or pipeline ruptures. The assessment will include literature reviews, consultation with experts in well control and a review of U.S. and international patents for developing technologies in this field.

The 24-month project 1) reviewed all aspects of coiled- tubing drilling, completion, production, and workover technology, 2) updated existing PC programs, and 3) developed new PC programs needed by participants to overcome field problems. Information for the reports was obtained from technical literature, field tests, service companies, operators, and laboratory tests. The objective of the project was to keep participants abreast of the latest technical developments in coiled-tubing technology and to assist them in implementing this technology into their operations.