Surface BOP: Testing and Completing Deepwater Wells Drilled With a Surface BOP Rig

Abstract

Abstract Many deepwater development projects in Operators' portfolios require lower costs to meet internal economic thresholds. Shell has therefore looked at extending Surface BOP activities to include well testing and completion techniques for deepwater wells in conjunction with Surface BOP drilling. The cost advantages of Surface BOP drilled wells have been demonstrated (notably in the Far East), but the recent Surface BOP drilled Brazil well is a milestone in terms of extending the applicability to deeper water and harsher environments. The enabling technology has been the Subsea Disconnect System (SDS). Testing and completion techniques have therefore been developed to be compatible with Surface BOP wells drilled with an SDS. The paper will focus on the following aspects: Well testing using Surface BOPs from a moored rig Well Completions using Surface BOPs from a moored rig Shell has developed a testing configuration to carry out a DST essentially using standard equipment. The well testing equipment configuration is currently ready for use, waiting for the opportunity to be run. In completion operations, the availability of a high pressure riser does not add significant complexity and even actually simplifies some of the completion activities. Conceptual studies and early hazard/risk assessments have shown there are no obvious showstoppers and the duration of a Surface BOP rig completion is expected to be very similar to a subsea BOP rig completion. The paper describes the results of the conceptual studies, early hazard assessment exercises used to define the basic design parameters and more detailed hazop studies.