The role of technology post-Macondo

David Paganie • Houston

Technology has been, and will continue to be, a key component in advancing offshore exploration and development. But how will technology be used to prevent and respond to another Macondo-type incident?

A forum comprising industry’s top technical experts met recently in Houston to identify areas of offshore oil and gas that require further research and development. The RPSEA-organized meeting closed with a recommended list of technology gaps in preventative, response, and ecosystem management and valuation, which will be documented and submitted to US authorities in early September.

Some of the leading recommended topics in the preventative category were: monitoring of the well, cement, and pore pressure; early gas detection; best management practices; reliability studies and benchmarking of equipment performance; BOP design; and training with measurable results.

One participant suggested that industry consider lessons learned from similar incidents within, and outside, the industry. Piper Alpha, for example, ushered in a step-change in preventative-based mitigation in the UKCS. Responsibility for the regulation of the offshore industry transferred to a new organization – Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Offshore Division – and the existing regulations were replaced by goal-setting criteria. A safety case for each installation must demonstrate how major accident hazards are adequately controlled and that the management system is suitable, according to HSE. This is required before an installation can be used in the UKCS

In the response category, top subjects identified by forum participants were: flow measurement from the source; sub-surface surveillance measurements; skimming technology; defining containment and capacity requirements; combining collection and intervention; and topkill methods.

At the time of this writing, a consortium of Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, and Shell, announced its $1-billion solution. The “rapid response” capture and containment system is being designed with initial capacity for 100,000 b/d of oil and for use in up to 10,000 ft of water. The new system, configured with subsea and surface components, can be mobilized within 24 hours, the companies say. ExxonMobil is the designated lead for engineering, procurement, and construction of the system, which is expected to be completed within 18 months. The companies formed a non-profit organization, Marine Well Containment Co., to operate and maintain the system.

Ecosystem management and valuation was the third category reviewed at the forum. Lead recommendations for development were: capturing existing knowledge; high-quality monitoring in deepwater; model and assimilate existing data; environmental monitoring: air, water, and ecosystems; data management; and ecosystem valuation.

The most difficult oil to remove, explained one participating environmental chemist, is the oil in the coastal marshlands of Louisiana, which supports 90% of fisheries in the northern Gulf, he said. The sensitive nature of the area is such that attempting to remove the oil can actually cause more damage, he said. However, most environmental indicators in the GoM suggest a gradual return of the ecosystem in 3-5 years, he explained, pointing to a similar scenario that followed the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

One forum participant with a safety training company suggested that industry consider behavioral training and education, not just technology, to prevent another Macondo-type incident.

The good news is: industry is seeking to advance offshore exploration and development with renewed focus on health, safety, and environment; the bad news is: the root cause of the Macondo incident is still unknown.