Stretching hundreds or thousands of feet into the dark waters below a mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) is the conduit through which all operations and fluids fl ow. The primary purpose of the vessel’s offshore riser system is to enable the safe transportation of fluids and gases from beneath the seafloor and the surface, and vice versa. From the running, operation and retrieval of drillpipe to well control operations and more, any and all processes that require a surface connection to the well are made possible through riser systems.
The connection is established through a series of 27-m (90-ft)-long riser joints connected together. The integrity of these individual riser joints is paramount, presently requiring inspections every fi ve years to identify any flaws in need of repair. Logistically complex, the inspection process requires the physical transportation of the joints and other components by water to a landbased facility for disassembly, inspection and repair. This approach requires extensive boat trips and trucking of the riser, according to Stress Engineering Services (SES), a provider of consulting engineering services.
SES sought a way to reduce the complexity and the time and costs associated with the MODU inspection process. By partnering with LaserStream, a specialist in the use of laser-based measurement for the inspection of oil and gas equipment and pipe/tubing, a new approach was developed.
The companies combined the power of conditionbased maintenance and monitoring with laser measurement to determine the condition of drilling riser joints, predict when vital components will require service and determine remaining component life. The program uses synchronized drilling and metocean data, along with measured loads on the riser and wellhead system, data analytics and more.
In addition, the process includes data collected through the use of a laser profilometry bore erosion measurement and inspection system (BEMIS). Featuring a scanner head that rotates 250 rpm, the BEMIS can collect more than 3,000 points of measurement in each rotation. These measurements are collected on the inside diameter (ID) of the main bore and auxiliary line between wells to characterize the state of the drilling riser joints. The datapoints are analyzed using the LaserViewer software to map and determine material loss, characterize features to determine what caused the anomaly and perform detailed dimensional analysis of the entire tube, according to SES.
The BEMIS is deployed through the ID of the riser via a tethered crawler while the riser is on deck and eight joints can be inspected in one day. Field results are available at the site, and a final report identifying damage is available within a week.
Recommended Reading
Orange Basin Serves Up More Light Oil
2024-03-15 - Galp’s Mopane-2X exploration well offshore Namibia found a significant column of hydrocarbons, and the operator is assessing commerciality of the discovery.
E&P Highlights: Feb. 26, 2024
2024-02-26 - Here’s a roundup of the latest E&P headlines, including interest in some projects changing hands and new contract awards.
Vår Selling Norne Assets to DNO
2024-05-08 - In exchange for Vår’s producing assets in the Norwegian Sea, DNO is paying $51 million and transferring to Vår its 22.6% interest in the Ringhorne East unit in the North Sea.
Deepwater Roundup 2024: Offshore Australasia, Surrounding Areas
2024-04-09 - Projects in Australia and Asia are progressing in part two of Hart Energy's 2024 Deepwater Roundup. Deepwater projects in Vietnam and Australia look to yield high reserves, while a project offshore Malaysia looks to will be developed by an solar panel powered FPSO.
For Sale, Again: Oily Northern Midland’s HighPeak Energy
2024-03-08 - The E&P is looking to hitch a ride on heated, renewed Permian Basin M&A.