EXPLORATION • DRILLING • FIELD SERVICES
TESTINGtimes W
ith our energy requirements set to increase in the years to come and oilfields becoming increasingly less
accessible, plans have been put into place to drill ultra-deep wells. Consequently, the reliability and long service life of subsea and downhole equipment is vital to the success of the oil and gas sector as it can be extremely costly to repair and maintain. Intervention – where it is even possible – frequently involves the mobilisation of highly specialised technologies and equipment, and often has a considerable impact on production and costs.
HANDLING PRESSURE DEPTH AND FLOW ASSURANCE Firms operating in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) are working at ever increasing depths, plus there is a growing industry trend towards exploiting subsea resources in West Africa, the Caspian Sea and the arctic. With increased depth comes increased risk of components failing. As a result, equipment manufacturers are currently expected to prepare their products for depths of between 1,000 and 1,500m, where the absolute atmospheric pressures at this depth range from approximately 102 to 151 bar. However, it is likely that we could see operators asking designers for equipment that can perform at depths of 3,000m in as little as five years’ time. Tis will see a tripling of the pressure that parts
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Dr Carl Wordsworth reveals why, today more than ever, onshore testing is vital for equipment destined for subsea environments
must be capable of handling while still performing optimally. In fact, it has been suggested that subsea operations might see depths of 5,000m to 6,000m become the norm. At this depth the pressure becomes the equivalent to instruments holding the weight of a horse on every square centimetre, making it clear that there is very little room for error. Furthermore, depth can lead to major changes to the oil itself, which impacts the ability to regulate it and transport it to the surface. Many subsea operators will work within the thermocline, which means that most sea bed temperatures sit between 3 to 4°C. However, the ranges between sea bed and surface temperatures, for example in North Africa and the Caspian, might be very different. Tus, equipment must be able to withstand expansion and contraction from these temperature changes. Pipeline insulation companies perform crucial tests to ensure that pipes and equipment can maintain the temperature of oil for as long as 10 to 12 hours.
NAVIGATING THE TRL In considering the risks relating to depth, there is a clear need for regulation in this sector. One such piece of regulation is the seven level Technology Readiness Level (API 17N) that manufacturers must assure their components are put through as a necessary measure to avoid production issues, and more importantly, to prevent environmental disaster. However,
BHR’s UK test facility is an onshore site that accurately reproduces downhole conditions
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