Lessons Learned During Manufacture, Installation, Deployment and Operation of a Managed Pressure Drilling System on Classed Drilling Units in Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) has been used on land and offshore units with surface blowout preventers (BOP). More Deepwater projects around the world are adopting this innovative technique due to the advantages offered by this technology. The industry is facing several challenges, such as reliability, barriers, offshore environments, limited space, riser gas management (RGM), general riser interface issues, training and regulatory requirements. The primary focus of this paper will be on the system that utilizes a Rotating Control Device (RCD) and surface choke system equipment. The objective of this paper is to discuss and address lessons learned and challenges faced during the classification of the first MPD System deployment in Gulf of Mexico (GOM) on Deepwater drilling units and based on ABS experience gained from past and on-going various MPD projects. Details on key focus areas, obstacles, and areas of improvements faced during the design review, risk assessment, testing, installation, and integration and commissioning of an MPD system in GOM for Deepwater operation will be provided. Lessons learned from under performance, failures, unplanned issues, and mitigation measures taken during project execution will be discussed. Key findings from the various risk studies that assisted in improving system safety will be discussed. Based on past project experiences, ABS has determined that additional improvements are needed to most effectively meet class and regulatory requirements. This paper summarizes major concerns to be addressed and provides necessary mitigation measures to eliminate unscheduled events, and help minimize delay in classification. These efforts establish a baseline for classification of MPD drilling equipment and system for operations in Gulf of Mexico by providing major steps in achieving Classification along with providing information on the regulatory involvement in MPD Operations in Gulf of Mexico.