Application of Numerical Modeling for Predicting the Fatigue Crack Growth of an Elliptical Crack in Kelly Valves

Author(s):  
Hamidreza Ahmadimoghaddamseighalani ◽  
Pierre Mertiny

Kelly valves, also known as full opening safety valves, are widely used in the oil and gas industry for the purpose of blowout prevention. Crack propagation in the stem hole feature of Kelly valves is of concern during service in drilling operations as fatigue may lead to catastrophic failure. A computational tool to predict the fatigue life of these valves when a crack is present was therefore created. The present paper describes the numerical modeling approach in which an elliptical crack in the stem hole feature was introduced. To predict the fatigue life of the valve based on the J-integral method, ANSYS Workbench was used for a FEA analysis in conjunction with Microsoft EXCEL and Iron Python programming.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunnar Ulland ◽  
Gunnar Hilsen ◽  
Stefano Croatto

Abstract Subsea wellhead systems have a design fatigue life that is expected to withstand the damage incurred from stress caused by cyclic loading during its operation. Wellhead fatigue is a critical factor when drilling offshore wells because the condition of the wellhead determines the length of time drilling activities can be carried out safely. The presence of the BOP on top of the wellhead affects fatigue life. Initially, these units were designed for 6-in. and 10-in. diameter casing and weighed slightly less than 1,400 lb. [ASME, 2003) Over time, BOPs evolved, and today's units are considerably larger and heavier than their predecessors, weighing in at approximately 400 metric tons. This increase in size and weight on the wellhead negatively impacts fatigue life. In recent years, the oil and gas industry has begun to look for ways to reduce wellhead fatigue to extend the life of the wellhead and expand the margins for safe drilling operations. A new ROV-operated Wellhead Load Relief (WLR) system, developed specifically to mitigate fatigue, uses special tensioners that are tethered individually to the BOP. Each tensioner contains a hydraulic spooling unit with a lock- and-pull mechanism that allows the ROV to tighten adjustable tethers subsea, pulling them from slack to a maximum tension of 35 metric tons. This approach to installation is a departure from common industry practice, which necessitates the configuration of the predetermined tether lengths on the topside. The ROV-operated WLR system described in this paper is a compact, high-capacity BOP tethering system suitable for both template and seabed anchoring. It provides a new and efficient way of tethering the BOP to avoid wellhead fatigue and delivers additional benefits that include minimized HSE risk, a smaller deck spread, decreased deployment time, and a smaller crew. The WLR system was operated subsea for the first time in December 2019. By precisely tensioning each tether and limiting the load transferred to the wellhead, the WLR significantly lessened wellhead fatigue, resulting in an almost complete halt in BOP movement. This new technology enables the operator to make optimal use of the fatigue life of the wellhead without compromising efficiency or safety.


Author(s):  
Maria V Clavijo ◽  
Adriana M Schleder ◽  
Enrique Lopez Droguett ◽  
Marcelo R Martins

Currently, a Dynamic Position (DP) System is commonly used for offshore operations. However, DP failures may generate environmental and economic losses; thus, this paper presents the Reliability, Availability and Maintainability (RAM) analysis for two different generations of DP system (DP2 and DP3) used in drilling operations. In addition to the RAM analysis, the approach proposed herein considers the uncertainties present in the equipment failure data and provides more information about criticality equipment ratings and probability density functions (pdf) of the repair times. The reliability analysis shows that, for 3 months of operation, the total failure probability of the DP2 system is 1.52% whereas this probability for the DP3 system is only 0.16%. The results reveal that the bus-bar is the most critical equipment of the DP2 system, whereas the wind sensor represents the priority equipment in the DP3 system. Using 90% confidence level, each DP configuration was evaluated for a 1-year operation, finding a reliability mean equal to 70.39% and 86.77% for the DP2 system and the DP3 system, respectively. The DP2 system asymptotic availability tends to present a constant value of 99.98% whereas for the DP3 system, it tends to be 99.99%. Finally, the maintainability analysis allows concluding that the mean time for system repair is expected to be 3.6 h. This paper presents a logical pathway for analysts, operators, and reliability engineers of the oil and gas industry.


Author(s):  
Grethe O. Ose ◽  
Trygve J. Steiro

Abstract Integrated operations (IO) is an ongoing change process in the oil and gas industry. New technological opportunities enable working in new ways that involve an integration of onshore and offshore personnel. This paper analyzes the results of two rounds of data gathering in an onshore drilling support center, in terms of the development of resilience. The first round took place in 2004/2005 and the second in 2012. This study presents a framework for the analysis of resilience and has used the case company as a mean of testing the framework. Our findings indicate that the support center has taken a huge step in the direction of becoming more resilient. The drilling company has tested a number of designs and sizes of support centers, each of which has different pros and cons. For the drilling discipline to develop resilience, it is essential that the number of rigs supported by a center is not too large, as they must not become involved in too many rigs and drilling operations. Our findings also indicate that the suggested framework provides a good overall picture of the development of resilience in the case company.


Author(s):  
Ricardo de Lepeleire ◽  
Nicolas Rogozinski ◽  
Hank Rogers ◽  
Daniel Ferrari

Within the oil and gas industry, significant costs are often incurred by the operating company during the well-construction phase of drilling operations. Specifically, the operators cost to drill a well can cost tens or hundreds of millions of USD. One specific area where significant changes in drilling operations have occurred is in the offshore environment, specifically operations from mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs). With the ever-increasing demand for oil and gas, operators globally have increased drilling budgets in an effort to meet forecasted demand. However, the increased budgets are often eroded or offset by increasing drilling costs. Therefore, operators are continually in search of new technology, processes, or procedures to help improve drilling operations and overall operational efficiencies. One Latin America operator identified a common operation as a possible area where operational cost could be easily reduced through the implementation of systems that allow the manipulation of valve manifolds remotely. Additionally, operating such valve manifolds remotely enhanced operational safety for personnel, which was an equally important consideration. This paper details the evaluation of existing equipment and procedures and a process used to develop a new remote-control system using a machine logic control (MLC) that has been designed, built, tested, and deployed successfully on MODUs operating in Latin America.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 2157-2178
Author(s):  
David Oluwasegun Afolayan ◽  
Adelana Rasak Adetunji ◽  
Azikiwe Peter Onwualu ◽  
Oghenerume Ogolo ◽  
Richard Kwasi Amankwah

AbstractSuccessful drilling operations are dependent on the properties of the drilling fluid used to drill wells. Barite is used as a weighting agent during the preparation of drilling fluid. Over the years, oil and gas industry in Nigeria has been depending mainly on imported barite for drilling operations, whereas the country has huge deposits of barite. There is the need to assess the properties of the locally sourced barite for their suitability in drilling fluid formulation. This study presents the local processing methods of barite and examines the crude and on-the-site processed barite’s physio-chemical properties. These parameters were compared with American Petroleum Institute and Department of Petroleum Resources standards. XRD results show that on-the-site beneficiated barite has 87.79% BaSO4, 6.66% silica, 0.03% total soluble salt, 1.39% Fe2O3, and 1.603% heavy metals. Chemical analysis indicated that the pH, moisture content, metallic content such as Ca, Pb, Zn, Mg, Cu, and Cd minerals, and extractable carbonates were within the standard specified for usage as a drilling fluid weighting agent. The analysed crude barite samples were basic, within the pH of 8.3 and 8.6. Locally processed barite has lower Fe, Pb, Cd, and Cu content compared to industrially accepted barite. The specific gravity increased from 4.02 ± 0.07 to 4.15 ± 0.13, and the hardness reduced potentially from 5 Mohr to 3.5 Mohr on the hardness scale. The amount of impurities was sufficiently low, and the specific gravity of the samples improved to meet the needs of any drilling operation and compare favourably with industrially accepted barite.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario A. Rivas ◽  
Andres A. Ramirez ◽  
Bader S. Al-Zahrani ◽  
Khaled K. Abouelnaaj

Abstract One of the major challenges the Oil and Gas Industry faces nowadays during drilling operations is the twist-offs on Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) components such as Drilling Jars, Shock Tools, Mud Motors, Roller Reamers, Stabilizers, Drill Collars, PBLs, Heavy Weight Drill Pipe (HWDP), Drill Pipe (DP), etc. To overcome this challenge, an initiative was proposed by performing a study based on twist-offs experienced on BHA components while drilling operations and recommendations are provided to reduce and eliminate twist-offs related to drilling with suboptimal drilling parameters. The statistical data for the twist-off events was collected coming from Daily Drilling Reports, and the analysis was limited to all wells which presented twist-offs on the drillstring and BHA components. Three examples of twist-offs due to drilling with erratic torque are discussed as well as a successful example of drilling parameters optimization. The three examples which presented drillstring and BHA twist-offs were analyzed using available BHA Dynamics and vibrations software and it was discovered that the parameters utilized (operational RPM) fell within the critical zone shearing force peaks (resonance vibrations). The components with the most twist-offs were identified. The hole size where we have the most twist-offs were also identified, which will help in focusing on these areas for the recommendations provided. This analysis will help Drilling Engineers and Foremen to foresee vibration dysfunctions and act accordingly by the use of available BHA Dynamics software in order to optimize drilling parameters before and during drilling. By drilling within a safe operating RPM window (away from resonant RPM), there will be reduction in the number of twist-offs and associated lost time.


2011 ◽  
Vol 488-489 ◽  
pp. 670-673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marin Petrović ◽  
Alojz Ivanković ◽  
Neal Murphy

Polycrystalline diamond (PCD) materials have a variety of applications, mainly as cutting tools for machining non-ferrous metals and non-metallic materials. A significant application of PCD is in oil and gas industry for rock drilling operations. Other important areas, such as mining, have yet to reach their full potential. These cutters/tools are subjected to high operating temperatures, impact loads and abrasive wear during these operations, which may lead to their sudden failure. An advantage of these materials is that their structure and composition can be engineered to return properties required for specific applications and operations.


Author(s):  
Svein Herman Nilsen ◽  
Massimiliano Russo ◽  
Guttorm Grytøyr

Over the last decades, the complexity and duration of offshore drilling operations have steadily increased. The size and weight of the risers and BOP stack has grown significantly. These factors have led to an increase in fatigue loads imposed on the wellhead structures during drilling and completion operations. Wellhead fatigue might ultimately lead to loss of well structural integrity and pressure containment and therefore safe and reliable drilling of subsea wellheads has gained high priority in the global oil and gas industry. This paper presents two of the most complex real time instrumentation campaigns for drilling operations. Analyses of a connected drilling riser system including the well structure are complex and involve several engineering disciplines. In addition, there are many unknowns going into the equations when accumulated fatigue damage of the wellhead is estimated. Therefore, assumptions need to be made, very often on the conservative side. A typical example are the global drilling riser analyses where the environmental conditions, actual rig motion and riser / BOP behavior are uncertain. With the duplex scope of accurately documenting the wellhead fatigue status during drilling operations and of achieving a better understanding of the actual risk level of wellhead fatigue, Statoil decided to start a very comprehensive monitoring campaign. Two MODU representing very different generations of rigs in terms of weights and types of equipment were instrumented from topside to BOP connector. Strain gauges were installed around the BOP connector as close as possible to the wellhead in order to capture wellhead response as accurately as possible. Due to the large number of sensors, high accuracy requirement and high sampling frequency of data to be shown live, a cabled solution was selected vs remote battery operated sensors transmitting via acoustic. Double set of cables, sensors and topside equipment were installed in order to make the instrumentation system fully redundant and suited for permanent installation. All data were additionally made available real time onshore to allow the full overview of the operation. To author’s knowledge, these two instrumentation systems are the most comprehensive and complex of this type installed on a drilling riser as of today. The first of the two system was installed approximately three years ago and it is still in operation. This paper describes the instrumentation systems installed and gives an extract of the quality data extracted and already used in already published studies [1, 2, 3].


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kingsley Okenyi ◽  
Ejiro Ogbodu ◽  
Abayomi Apena ◽  
Olalekan Olagunju

Abstract The importance of HSE in oil and gas activities especially in drilling operations cannot be overemphasized. Over the years, many systems of how to reduce and eliminate HSE challenges in our operations have been implemented. These systems keep changing to meet goal zero target. Despite the implementation and the published advances in HSE approaches and tools, HSE performance continues to be at least one incident above target which is Goal Zero. This paper is focused on identifying if the Best Value Approach (BVA) can be modified into a HSE leadership model to help HSE leaders, frontline barrier leaders with delivering GOAL ZERO. This paper specifically focuses on identifying the unique practice of the BVA that has generated a significant amount of documented high-performance results in the procurement of services and project management. This paper will translate this proven performance to HSE leadership. The paper will match this theory with a current HSE leadership practice of Assist and Assure in Shell. The aim, match theory to practice and then to theory and then produce a concept that will help HSE leaders optimise the implementation of the Assist and Assure Process.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Kusumawardhani

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the oil and gas industry, which required a rapid change on the way we deliver drilling activity and avoid operational disruption. To assure continuous offshore Jackup drilling operations, an Operator in East Java area and Schlumberger decided to implement Performance Live digitally connected service. It reduces the risk of virus transmission as well as substitutes the requirement for logistic and related costs for personnel onboard. The multiskilled and multistage of one crew came in conjunction with a digital ecosystem to deliver safer and higher-performing operations with less personnel onboard, resulting in carbon footprint reduction. This initiative reduced the operator Operations wellsite crew size and enabled performing most analytical tasks from the office environment. Using this approach, the operation was successfully conducted with zero HSE or service quality incidents. In addition to the ability to proceed with the operations, rig crew size was reduced by 33% from standard configuration, which lowered carbon print by the same amount. Background and Challenges: The objective of the drilling campaign was to increase oil production in operator’s concession operating block from the carbonate reservoirs by drilling an exploration well in 2020. Known as one of the toughest areas in Indonesia for drilling conditions, this basin has a high possibility of total losses environment and massive thick limestone that posed high stick/slip and shock and vibration. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic crisis added unprecedented uncertainty and posed many challenges for the operator ensuring business continuity and drilling operations, especially with regards to health, safety, and operational considerations where operations would be conducted with tough logistics and people movement.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document