OIL & GAS

CPOE was engaged by China Guangzhou Geological Survey to carry out first-of-its-kind in the world deep water gas hydrate pilot drilling and well testing operation, by utilizing the newly established drilling contractor and newly built Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODU), or floating drilling units, to undertake this already technically challenging wells program.

In order to ensure that the safety, environmental and operational risks associated with the use of a new contractor and a new MODU rig do not exacerbate the overall risk profile for the project, Lloyd’s Register (LR) was engaged to carry out various risk assessments and studies for the gas hydrate pilot project.

At LR, we understand that risk straddles every element of operations and that managing and reducing risk is crucial to maintaining safe and reliable operations. The risk consultancy expertise we delivered to ensure risks were identified and management in relation to the newly established drilling contractor and newly built MODU included:

1.  Facilitated and reported the Dynamic Positioning (DP) Failure Modes and Effect Analysis (FMEA) tests of the 7th generation DP semi-submersible drilling rig.

The rig shall be able to maintain its position after any kind of single fault of the rig positioning system according to relevant class rules, and such capability shall be verified by tests. Our experienced risk consultants were sent onboard the rig, to facilitate the FMEA test of the rig’s DP system and reporting findings from the test.

2.  Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Management System (MS) of the drilling contractor audit.

As the drilling contractor was newly established, it was important that the HSE MS of the drilling contractor are comprehensive and reflected the risks and nature of the drilling operation. Our risk and management system specialists audited the drilling contractor, focusing not only on the completeness of the system, but also on how the system was implemented at various levels and different operation locations.

3.  Perform high level integrity / operational review of well designs, drilling programs and supporting data.

Due to the novelty and unconventional nature of the project, two levels of independent well engineering review were conducted, one preliminary review and one detailed review, covering the following aspects:

• Client Data & Subsurface inputs
• Drilling Basis of Design & Methodology
• Casing Design
• Well Control Equipment (including riser & surface configuration)
• Well Control Philosophy
• Drilling Fluids & Cementation
• Advanced Drilling Techniques
• Well Testing Basis of Design & Methodology

The overall objectives of the two reviews were to flag any potential flaws that may jeopardise the well integrity or overall well delivery.

4.  Carry out thorough and systematic risk analysis of the pilot project, covering all phases from mobilization, drilling and well testing to demobilization.

The pilot project represents a number of challenges and risks. The systemic identification of hazards, and evaluation of risks helps to better understand how the risks are controlled. HAZID, HAZOP and qualitative risk analysis were performed for the project.