BP, Maersk join to develop next generation deepwater drilling technology
Offshore staff
COPENHAGEN, Denmark –Maersk Drilling and BP have partnered to develop conceptual engineering designs for a new breed of advanced technology deepwater offshore drilling rigs. Specifically, the partners will work on concepts for 20,000 psi and 350ºF reservoirs.
The agreement is part of BP’s Project 20K multi-year initiative to develop next-generation exploration and production equipment.
The multi-year partnership will focus on evaluating rig concepts applicable to BP’s deepwater portfolio. A jointly staffed engineering team will be located in Houston, with support from Maersk Drilling’s headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark. The team will perform engineering studies to select the optimal design of the 20K drilling rigs, riser and BOP equipment. BP then will decide how best to proceed to construction.
Maersk says some of the technologies to be developed and deployed on the new rigs will include advanced operating systems to aid the situational awareness of the rig crew and inform decision making; real-time BOP monitoring to continuously verify functionality; and enhanced mechanical capabilities of the BOP, rig structures, and piping systems.
BP’s Project 20K sets out its intention to develop technologies over the next decade in four key areas: well design and completions; drilling rigs, riser and blowout prevention equipment; subsea production systems; and well intervention and containment.
2/5/2013
