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For the technical folks..
Posted on 7/13/10 at 9:38 pm
Posted on 7/13/10 at 9:38 pm
It seems they have just effectively installed a custom BOP on top of the failed BOP . This apparently took several weeks of development.What were the issues that prevented them from just replacing the failed BOP with a new BOP at the sea floor ?
3
Posted on 7/13/10 at 9:53 pm to TexTiga
For one thing, what do you do with the drill pipe stuck in the rams of the DWH BOP?
Posted on 7/13/10 at 10:05 pm to MountainTiger
Admit to being a dummy re this MOuntain.Had not considered that seemingly minor issue :)
Any idea what the delay is tonight with shutting the RAMS ?
Any idea what the delay is tonight with shutting the RAMS ?
Posted on 7/13/10 at 10:15 pm to TexTiga
Someone is afraid they may cause the well to lose integrity and start leaking thru the sea floor. Stuff I have read just says they did a survey of the ocean floor and they are going to study it over night and tomorrow.
BP testing delayed on Gulf oil fix
BP testing delayed on Gulf oil fix
This post was edited on 7/13/10 at 10:19 pm
Posted on 7/13/10 at 10:18 pm to Oyster
I guess it's better safe than sorry but it seems to me that if it wanted to leak through the surface casing it would be already. What do I know...I'm a computer jockey?
Posted on 7/13/10 at 10:20 pm to MountainTiger
quote:
A series of methodical, preliminary steps were completed, including mapping the seafloor. Later Tuesday, National Incident Commander Thad Allen met with the federal energy secretary and the head of the U.S. geological survey and other scientists and geologists.
"As a result of these discussions, we decided that the process may benefit from additional analysis that will be performed tonight and tomorrow," Allen said.
quote:
Engineers also spent hours on a seismic survey, creating a map of the rock under the sea floor to spot potential dangers, like gas pockets. It also provides a baseline to compare with later surveys during and after the test to see if the pressure on the well is causing underground problems.
It was unclear whether there was something in the results of the survey that prompted officials to delay. Earlier, BP Vice President Kent Wells said he hadn't heard what the results were, but he felt "comfortable that they were good."
Posted on 7/13/10 at 10:49 pm to Oyster
quote:
Someone is afraid they may cause the well to lose integrity and start leaking thru the sea floor
the fear is based around the pressure that would build beneath the capping stack if it were shut in there. this pressure is higher than what the well is experiencing during flow, as it is open to the surface and pressure is not building.
the pressure would build as the formation stabilizes. this pressure would be equal to the reservoir pressure - the hydrostatic pressure exerted by a full column of reservoir fluid going from the mudline back to the formation.
if the well is truly flowing up the annulus behind the 7" x 9 7/8" casing string, then the this high pressure would exert a burst load on both the 16" casing and the 22" casing. This burst pressure may exceed the ratings of these strings. If that were to occur, rupturing the 16" or 22" beneath the mudline, the high pressure reservoir fluids would then likely find their way to the sea floor via a fracture in the sea floor. this would be called "broaching the mudline."
Posted on 7/13/10 at 10:53 pm to oilfieldtiger
The pressure would be equal to the reservoir pressure minus the head of 13,500 feet of oil. Your point is still valid but I just thought I'd point that out.
But if that happens, wouldn't the broach stop if they then opened the rams back up and relieved the pressure?
But if that happens, wouldn't the broach stop if they then opened the rams back up and relieved the pressure?
This post was edited on 7/13/10 at 10:55 pm
Posted on 7/13/10 at 10:58 pm to MountainTiger
quote:
But if that happens, wouldn't the broach stop if they then opened the rams back up and relieved the pressure?
it should, as the fluid would resume it's path of least resistance continuing up the wellbore and on to the production equipment.
they're proceeding w/ extreme caution to make sure this doesn't happen, but also respond quickly if it begins to.
Posted on 7/13/10 at 11:02 pm to oilfieldtiger
So why not just play it safe and produce the well until the relief well is finished. Its not like they dont have plenty of production capacity topside!
Posted on 7/13/10 at 11:10 pm to Oyster
quote:
So why not just play it safe and produce the well until the relief well is finished.
That's my question too. Or is this just a short-medium term fix? But if they can convert a major blowout into a producing well, more power to them.
Posted on 7/13/10 at 11:10 pm to Oyster
I guess that's an option but my understanding is that it's still going to be some time (1-2 weeks?) before they have enough capacity to produce it all.
Posted on 7/13/10 at 11:15 pm to MountainTiger
Supposedly they have the helix producer, the transocean explorer the the Q4000(even if it just continues to burn its production).
Posted on 7/13/10 at 11:23 pm to Oyster
I suppose they could also reconnect the Enterprise via top hat #7.
However, all they have right this second are Q4000 (~6000 bbls/day) and Helix (>22,000 bbls/day). 3 more assets could come online within say 1-2 weeks (Enterprise, Explorer and Toisa Pisces). Also consider what happens if a hurricane enters the gulf. All these assets have to disconnect and GTFO while the storm passes. If the ram stack functions and if the well can hold pressure, a hurricane would have no impact.
However, all they have right this second are Q4000 (~6000 bbls/day) and Helix (>22,000 bbls/day). 3 more assets could come online within say 1-2 weeks (Enterprise, Explorer and Toisa Pisces). Also consider what happens if a hurricane enters the gulf. All these assets have to disconnect and GTFO while the storm passes. If the ram stack functions and if the well can hold pressure, a hurricane would have no impact.
Posted on 7/14/10 at 6:05 am to TexTiga
quote:
What were the issues that prevented them from just replacing the failed BOP with a new BOP at the sea floor ?
another issue was that it would not unlatch from the wellhead.
Posted on 7/14/10 at 6:49 am to tigerdup07
ultimately, the q4000 will be removed from the field. the final configuration would involve the drillships discoverer enterprise and discoverer clear leader, the helix producer fpso, and the toisa pisces well test vessel would all ultimately be connected to the well. the q4000 is being removed from the mix since it's the smallest of these vessels and does not have oil storage capability -- i.e. everything it is producing has to be burned in the flare.
the drillships would be connected via the capping stack, while the producer and pisces would be connected via the manifold on the seafloor.
i think they're proceeding w/ the integrity test slowly and cautiously because if it's successful, you can have the well shut in rather than trying to contain tens of thouands of barrels of oil.
the drillships would be connected via the capping stack, while the producer and pisces would be connected via the manifold on the seafloor.
i think they're proceeding w/ the integrity test slowly and cautiously because if it's successful, you can have the well shut in rather than trying to contain tens of thouands of barrels of oil.
Posted on 7/14/10 at 7:26 am to oilfieldtiger
The careful approach makes a lot of sense; that my be why they are also considering diverting the oil into non producing oil wells nearby, particularly if the stack can't safely hold off the high oil pressure, and needed the producer ships to decompress the situation. That's more critical when there is a hurricane in the gulf...........
Posted on 7/14/10 at 8:11 am to ccw
let me also add that if the well is actually flowing up the 7" x 9 7/8" casing string, then shutting the well in at the capping stack should work just fine. that casing string is designed to handle high, producing type pressures.
i know it's been reported / assumed for some time that the well is flowing up the annulus behind the 7" x 9 7/8" string; however, to my knowledge that has not been conclusively proven as of yet.
i know it's been reported / assumed for some time that the well is flowing up the annulus behind the 7" x 9 7/8" string; however, to my knowledge that has not been conclusively proven as of yet.
Posted on 7/14/10 at 8:23 am to oilfieldtiger
I guess that's the point though. Nobody really knows. BP seems to think there are two possibilities: Flow up the annulus and then entering the casing at the seal assembly or down the annulus and up through the float collar. I'm disappointed and frustrated that the test wasn't run but it's hard to argue against being careful.
LINK [pdf]
LINK [pdf]
This post was edited on 7/14/10 at 8:24 am
Posted on 7/14/10 at 8:56 am to MountainTiger
Meanwhile oil flows unabated into the gulf . Why aren't they at least trying to capture what they can while they decide what the hell to do ? 
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