Production

The main goal of this project is to develop reference and computational tools that can be used by BSEE to improve production verification practices and personnel training.

The objective of this study was to plan, organize, promote, and host a 2-day workshop offering a public venue for consultation between offshore deepwater energy industry experts and regulators to: identify the critical issues and effects of water depth on equipment and operations and
determine the adequacy of current regulations.

The objective of this project was to produce a technical report to determine the effects and limitations of downhole commingling in regard to the ultimate recovery of hydrocarbons. The study shall addressed crossflow of reservoir fluids, the impact of reservoir drive mechanisms, and reliability of zone isolation methods.

The objective of the project was to produce a technical and economic report of enhanced recovery technologies, techniques and processes aimed at increasing the potential to increase hydrocarbon recovery on the US Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The report includes a summary of current offshore technologies incorporating artificial lift installations, such as gas lift and electrical submersible pumps (ESPs), waterflood, and subsea processing including boosting from the sea floor and from vertical caisson separators.

The Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Multiphase Transport Phenomena has focused on two technologies important to DOI/MMS: 1) cross flow filtration hydrocyclones for oil/water separation (onshore, offshore, subsea, and downhole); and, 2) the use of computational methods to address flow assurance issues associated with oil and gas production (processing issues, safety issues, and environmental issues). Reports are available to member organizations.

The objective of this study was to provide guidance for a testing framework that would not compromise the reliability and safety of future HIPPS installations in the Gulf of Mexico. The study provided guidance on the allowable (if any) leakage rates and developed recommendations on HIPPS test configurations that would mitigate concerns over practical limitations to testing.

The objective of this study was to examine the cause and probability of potential riser failures from operations through existing single and dual production risers with a surface BOP.

Task 1: A literature and industry survey to assess the operational frequency of use of surface BOPs for workover operations from floating production systems through existing single and dual Top Tensioned Riser (TTR) systems.

The Scope of Work for this effort will be divided into five (5) sub-projects: (i) Managing Hydrates in Late Field Life Situations; (ii) Under-inhibited Systems; (iii) High Pressure Jumper Design; (iv) Development of Techniques to Monitor Hydrates and/or Characterize Hydrate Slurries; (v) Development of Simulation Tools. The tasks are described as follows: Managing Hydrates in Late Field Life Situations Simulate several late field scenarios with focus on high water cut, emulsified oil, and low gas-oil-ratios.

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.

The objective of this project is the evaluation and minimization of risks associated with use of Compliant Vertical Access Riser (CVAR) solutions and the comparison of those risks with those of existing dry tree riser and FPS solutions.