Rig mooring depth record set
The semisubmersibleNoble Amos Runner has established a new world record for the deepest conventionally moored rig in 2,332 m (7,650 ft) of water in the Gulf of Mexico Green Canyon block 955.
The rig is a Noble EVA-4000 designed semisubmersible unit classed by ABS as A1, Column Stabilized Drilling Unit. It is rated to operate in water depths to 2,438 m (8,000 ft) and drilling depths to 9,906 m (32,500 ft).
While the rig’s existing mooring system meets current Minerals Management Service interim guidelines for the location, theNoble Amos Runner is one of four Noble rigs scheduled to be equipped with Noble’s NC-5SM mooring system. This system, developed following Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, increases the number of mooring points from nine to 12, providing added station keeping ability during extreme weather.
BP awards subsea contract
Cameron’s Drilling & Production Systems division has entered into a 10-year frame agreement with BP to provide subsea systems and related services for BP’s Deepwater Production Business Unit’s subsea tieback program, as well as for future subsea developments managed by that business unit in the Gulf of Mexico.
The first order under the new agreement, which covers subsea trees, controls, manifolds, and well connection systems, is expected to be for a multi-well subsea tieback project.
Subsea engineering for White Rose
Husky is progressing front-end engineering for the southern extension of the White Rose field, discovered in 2003. The southern extension is expected to be developed as a subsea tieback to theSeaRose FPSO.
Subject to regulatory approvals, production is scheduled for late 2009. It is anticipated that the K-15 discovery also will be developed through the southern extension development.
TheSeaRose is producing 110,000 b/d of oil from five wells. A sixth production well was being completed and is expected to come onstream to increase reservoir production capacity to 125,000 b/d of oil.
Husky Energy operates White Rose, with 72.5% working interest in the project. Petro-Canada holds the remaining 27.5%.
Reliance address hydrates
Reliance Industries Ltd. has placed a $25-million order for an anti-hydrate formation system with Aker Kvaerner. The system is destined for use across various gas pipelines in the Krishna-Godavari deepwater block KG-DWN-98/3.
The scope of work to be undertaken by Aker Kvaerner Process Systems includes engineering, technical services, license agreements, and supply of key equipment.
Aker Kvaerner is expected to provide a monoethylenglycol (MEG) reclamation system. Large quantities of MEG are used to prevent hydrate formation in gas pipelines during transport of gas from the offshore wellheads to the onshore facility at Kakinada. In this process, the MEG is contaminated with water and salts from the gas reservoir, production chemicals, and various solids. The facility will condition the MEG at the onshore facility by removing those contaminants allowing continuous reuse of the MEG in a closed loop.
Technip, Subsea 7 get contract for Stybarrow
BHP Billiton Petroleum Pty. Ltd. has awarded Technip Oceania Pty. Ltd. and Subsea 7 Australia Pty. Ltd. a subsea EPIC installation contract for the Stybarrow development project. In 800 m (2,625 ft) of water off the North West shelf of Australia, Stybarrow will be the deepest subsea production system in Australia.
The joint venture contract, valued at over $160 million, includes the design, manufacture, transport, installation, and pre-commissioning of 48 km (52 mi) of flexible risers, flowlines, and jumpers to be fabricated at Technip’s facilities in Le Trait, France. The contract also includes the transport, installation, and pre-commissioning of 16 km (10 mi) of dynamic and static umbilicals, and associated electrical and hydraulic flying leads, as well as the installation of the FPSO spider buoy and mooring system complete with anchors, all to be provided by BHP Billiton Petroleum Pty. Ltd.
The offshore program is scheduled to start in early 2007 using Technip’s construction vesselDeep Pioneer.
New riser delivery management service
MCS has introduced a new service to provide total ownership of a riser project from design through manufacture and delivery.
“MCS can now manage the delivery of the riser system and associated interfaces required from design and engineering through to final inspection and testing of the riser structure itself,” says Jeff Measamer, vice president of MCS in Houston. “In previous offshore riser projects, managing the delivery of the product or hardware has been separated from the design. No one group then has ownership of the process for delivering a complete system, which can compromise the design and delivery of a fully functional and safe system.
“The shortage of personnel experienced in project execution, when combined with the large number of current subsea projects around the world, is a severe problem facing many,” says Measamer. “Our systematic methodology can help operators meet those challenges as well as the engineering challenges of working in deeper water with high pressure and high temperatures. These conditions have led to more stringent requirements for manufacturing, and new requirements for qualification programs which need to be understood by the delivery teams.”
Shell awards subsea system for BC-10
The Shell Group has signed a contract with FMC Technologies Inc. to supply subsea completion and processing systems for the BC-10 project offshore Brazil.
The scope of supply for this phase includes 10 subsea trees rated for 68.95 MPa (10,000 psi), four subsea manifolds, six subsea boosting and separation systems, and related subsea equipment.
The subsea system will be engineered and manufactured at the FMC Technologies facility in Rio de Janeiro. Deliveries are slated for 2008.
The BC-10 development will be the first full-field development based on subsea oil and gas separation and subsea pumping. It is 120 km (75 mi) southeast of the coastal city of Vitória, in the state of Espírito Santo in water depths ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 m (4,921-6,562 ft).
Gene Kliewer, Houston
