Office/Division Program
TAP
Project Number
195
Category
Research Initiation Date (Award Date)
Research Performing Organization
Louisiana State University
Research Principal Investigator
Dr. Adam T. Bourgoyne, Jr.
Research Contracting Agency
Description
Develop a method for examining the adequacy of planned casing programs for minimizing platform vulnerability to cratering. Some operators use a rule of thumb that a well can be safely shut-in when casing is set at a certain depth. However, that depth is highly variable. This area of well design is currently poorly understood. The information generated by this project will be useful to identify and resolve technological and procedural barriers related to well control for deepwater development in the Gulf of Mexico and California regions as well as arctic drilling in Alaska.
Latest progress update
This is an effort between the MMS, LSU, and Petrobras, the Brazilian government oil and gas company.