Rotating Control Device Sealing Element Customization for Ultra-Deepwater Gulf of Mexico

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blaine Dow ◽  
Dexter Pazziuagan ◽  
Ken Vaczi ◽  
Chima Chima ◽  
Jason Guidry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Drill Pipe ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Control Device ◽  
Drill String ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Test Procedures ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Tool Joint

Abstract As the Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) systems for deepwater drilling rigs mature, operators are applying the technology on more complex prospects. Wells are encountering higher pressures in deeper water depths, pushing against the boundaries of technical limits not previously encountered. A prospect in the US Gulf of Mexico required drilling to measured depths exceeding 31000 feet in water deepwater. Under such demanding depth, a non-typical drillstring was required to manage the tensile loading. Typical drill pipe connections on 6 5/8" S-135 tool joints are 8.5" diameter. This drill string would require V-150 landing string, with a 6 5/8" FH tool joint diameter of 8.875". Hard banding would bring the tool joint nominal OD above 9". The depth of the well and planned string RPM presented risk of casing wear, therefore drillpipe protectors would also be required. The depth of the reservoir and size of the drillstring meant pipe would need to be stripped out of the well with up to 900 psi backpressure in order to maintain constant bottom hole pressure. All well challenges were used to determine design specifications for a custom sealing element. The scope of work was to design, validate through finite element analysis, then validate in a test fixture per API16RCD test procedures. On conclusion of the product validation, a land test rig trial, with mock-up of the planned system, including dual sealing elements in the Rotating Control Device (RCD), the required non-rotating drill pipe protectors on the planned drillpipe, was executed. The development schedule from start to finish was compressed to less than 6 months also, targeting completion ahead of the rig's drilling program. This paper will recount the various phases of the design-build-validate-test effort that went into resolving these technical limits. It will conclude with field results and lessons learned from first deployment. As operators pursue more challenging deepwater wells, this systematic approach, through alignment of the operator, drilling contractor and MPD technology company, serves as a model to expand the operating envelope of drilling systems, improving safe performance in a cost-effective manner.

scholarly journals The Optimization of Building Deconstruction for Department of Defense Facilities: Ft. McClellan Deconstruction Project

2006 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley Guy
Keyword(s):  
Economic Efficiency ◽  
Department Of Defense ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Maximum Amount ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Building Structures ◽  
Additional Time ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Total Labor

Deconstruction is the selective dismantling of building structures to recover the maximum amount of primarily reusable and secondarily recyclable materials in a safe and cost-effective manner. Deconstruction is a labor intensive process and can be difficult to achieve in a time-efficient and economical manner for light wood-framed buildings. Deconstruction techniques that balance hand and mechanical labor must be developed to maintain the integrity of materials for reuse and obtain maximum salvage value per unit of cost and time-on-site. This project entailed the removal of three identical WWII-era two-story wood-framed barracks buildings at Ft. McClellan Army Base, Anniston, AL, using hand deconstruction, combined mechanical and hand deconstruction techniques, and a traditional demolition method, i.e., mechanical reduction and disposal, in order to determine “optimal” deconstruction techniques based on salvage value per unit of cost. The maximum practical materials salvage from the study buildings using 100% hand deconstruction techniques was 39% of the mass by weight. A combination of hand and mechanical techniques was discovered to have approximately the same economic efficiency as 100% hand deconstruction, measured as a ratio of gross cost per salvage value, with a 44.6% reduction in total labor-hours, and a reduction of only 7% of salvage materials by weight. These findings indicate the potential for greatly increasing wood-framed building deconstruction practice relative to the additional time-on-site and labor that is required, compared to demolition, while optimizing economic benefits. This paper describes the research methods and deconstruction techniques employed, and lessons learned to advance the practice of deconstruction to be more economically competitive and time-efficient.

Non-Linear Finite Element Analysis of Contact-Impact between Drill String and Wellbore under Air Drilling

2011 ◽  
Vol 291-294 ◽  
pp. 1578-1581
Author(s):  
Ben Fu Yu ◽  
Xiang Zhen Yan ◽  
Xiu Juan Yang ◽  
Gen Sheng Li
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Drill Pipe ◽  
Drill String ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Linear Finite Element ◽  
Mechanics Model ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
Air Drilling ◽  
Contact Impact ◽  
Stress And Deformation

The dynamic mechanics model was built up to analyze the contact-impact between drill string and wellbore according to the characteristics of contact-impact, based on non-linear finite element method and Lagrange method. The dynamic mechanics equations were deduced by the dynamic mechanics model. The stress and deformation field of drill string with different parameters of bottom hole were obtained and tested by experiments and numerical simulation respectively. And also, the propagation laws of stress wave generated by contact-impact in drill pipe were studied. The comprehensive results indicate that the numerical results agree well with the actual dynamic process of contact-impact. The stress waves generated by contact-impact cause the change of stress. The contact-impact between drill string and wellbore under air drilling is the main reason for early drill string failure.

Lessons Learned From the Application and Refinement of Risk-Informed Inservice Inspection Programs

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan D. Chockie ◽  
M. Robin Graybeal ◽  
Scott D. Kulat
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effective ◽  
Nuclear Regulatory Commission ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Plant Safety ◽  
Nuclear Plants ◽  
New Information ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Regulatory Commission ◽  
Available Information

The risk-informed inservice inspection (RI-ISI) process provides a structured and systematic framework for allocating inspection resources in a cost-effective manner while improving plant safety. It helps focus inspections where failure mechanisms are likely to be and where enhanced inspections are warranted. To date, over eighty-five percent of US nuclear plants and a number of non-US plants have implemented, or are in the process of implementing, RI-ISI programs. Many are already involved in the periodic update of their RI-ISI program. The development of RI-ISI methodologies in the US has been a long and involved process. The risk-informed procedures and rules were developed to take full advantage of PRA data, industry and plant experiences, information on specific damage mechanisms, and other available information. An important feature of the risk-informed methodologies is the requirement to make modifications and improvements to the plant’s RI-ISI application as new information and insights become available. The nuclear industry, ASME Section XI, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission have all worked together to take advantage of the lessons learned over the years to refine and expand the use of risk-informed methodologies. This paper examines the lessons learned and the benefits received from the application and refinement of risk-informed inservice inspection programs. Also included in the paper is a review of how the information and insights have been used to improve the risk-informed methodologies.

scholarly journals Simple, affordable, and sustainable borehole observatories for complex monitoring objectives

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Kopf ◽  
T. Freudenthal ◽  
V. Ratmeyer ◽  
M. Bergenthal ◽  
M. Lange ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pore Pressure ◽  
Data Transfer ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Drill Pipe ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Drill String ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Coiled Tubing ◽  
Complex Monitoring ◽  
Acoustic Modem

Abstract. Seafloor drill rigs are remotely operated systems that provide a cost-effective means to recover sedimentary records of the upper sub-seafloor deposits. Recent increases in their payload included downhole logging tools or autoclave coring systems. Here we report on another milestone in using seafloor rigs: the development and installation of shallow borehole observatories. Three different systems have been developed for the MARUM-MeBo (Meeresboden-Bohrgerät) seafloor drill, which is operated by MARUM, University of Bremen, Germany. A simple design, the MeBoPLUG, separates the inner borehole from the overlying ocean by using o-ring seals at the conical threads of the drill pipe. The systems are self-contained and include data loggers, batteries, thermistors and a differential pressure sensor. A second design, the so-called MeBoCORK (Circulation Obviation Retrofit Kit), is more sophisticated and also hosts an acoustic modem for data transfer and, if desired, fluid sampling capability using osmotic pumps. In these MeBoCORKs, two systems have to be distinguished: the CORK-A (A stands for autonomous) can be installed by the MeBo alone and monitors pressure and temperature inside and above the borehole (the latter for reference); the CORK-B (B stands for bottom) has a higher payload and can additionally be equipped with geochemical, biological or other physical components. Owing to its larger size, it is installed by a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) and utilises a hot-stab connection in the upper portion of the drill string. Either design relies on a hot-stab connection from beneath in which coiled tubing with a conical drop weight is lowered to couple to the formation. These tubes are fluid-saturated and either serve to transmit pore pressure signals or collect porewater in the osmo-sampler. The third design, the MeBoPUPPI (Pop-Up Pore Pressure Instrument), is similar to the MeBoCORK-A and monitors pore pressure and temperature in a self-contained manner. Instead of transferring data on command using an acoustic modem, the MeBoPUPPI contains a pop-up telemetry with iridium link. After a predefined period, the data unit with satellite link is released, ascends to the sea surface, and remains there for up to 2 weeks while sending the long-term data sets to shore. In summer 2012, two MeBoPLUGs, one MeBoCORK-A and one MeBoCORK-B were installed with MeBo on RV Sonne, Germany, in the Nankai Trough area, Japan. We have successfully downloaded data from the CORKs, attesting that coupling to the formation worked, and pressure records were elevated relative to the seafloor reference. In the near future, we will further deploy the first two MeBoPUPPIs. Recovery of all monitoring systems by a ROV is planned for 2016.

New Approaches for Drilling Highly Depleted Reservoir in Deep Water Wells

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ola Mohamed Balbaa ◽  
Hesham Mohamed ◽  
Sherif Mohamed Elkholy ◽  
Mohamed ElRashidy ◽  
Robert Munger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Deep Water ◽  
Drilling Fluid ◽  
Drill Pipe ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Drill String ◽  
Drilling Fluids ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Enabling Factors ◽  
Design Changes ◽  
The Mediterranean

Abstract While drilling highly depleted gas reservoirs with a very narrow drilling window, Common drilling methods like utilizing loss of circulation pills, wellbore strengthening materials and managed pressure drilling (MPD) are being used in several reservoirs, yet it cannot be successful or cost effective if applied in a traditional manner. Innovative approaches to enable drilling wells in highly depleted reservoir in the Mediterranean deep water were adopted. The approaches incorporated design changes to the well and Bottom hole assembly (BHA), optimized drilling practices, and unconventional use of MPD while drilling and cementing production liner. Well design change in comparison to offset wells to allow drilling the reservoir in one hole section. Several design changes were considered in the BHA and drilling fluids to prevent as well as mitigate losses and differential sticking risks. From the BHA viewpoint, one of the key successful prevention measures was maximizing the standoff to reduce the contact area with the formation, this was achieved through utilizing spiral heavy wall drill pipe (HWDP) instead of drill collars in addition to a modeled placement of stabilizers and roller reamers. While on the drilling fluid side, Calcium carbonate material was added to strengthen wellbore, prevent losses and avoid formation damage. Particle size up to 1000 micron and concentration up to 40ppb was used to strengthen the depleted sands dynamically while drilling. Furthermore, as mitigation to stuck pipe, Jar and accelerator placement was simulated to achieve optimum impulse and impact force while maintaining the Jar above potential sticking zone. Whereas to address the consequence of a stuck pipe event, disconnect subs were placed in BHA to allow for recovering the drill string efficiently. MPD was first introduced in the Mediterranean in 2007 and continued to develop this well-known technique to mitigate various drilling challenges. For this well, MPD was one of the key enabling factors to safely drill, run and cement the production liner. Surface back pressure MPD allowed using the lowest possible mud weight in the hole and maintaining downhole pressure constant in order to manage the narrow drilling window between the formation pressure and fracture pressure (less than 0.4 ppg). MPD was also applied for the first time for running and cementing the production liner to prevent losses and achieve good cement quality which is a key to successful well production.

Drilling with Glass and Air: Using Hollow Glass Spheres to Address a Wide Ranging Drilling Challenge in a Safe, Efficient and Cost-Effective Manner

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.. Rylance ◽  
Y.. Tuzov ◽  
V.. Sherishorin
Keyword(s):  
Scale Up ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Successful Outcome ◽  
Drilling Fluids ◽  
Eastern Siberia ◽  
Hollow Glass ◽  
Glass Spheres ◽  
Effective Manner

Abstract A major development with multiple rigs delivering extensive multi-laterals encountered a pervasive mud-window issue within the reservoir. The resulting severe mud losses, extensive NPT and formation-damage was also deteriorating with time due to depletion. Conventional approaches to stem losses had failed and adoption of an energized mud-system with acceptable Effective Circulating Density (ECD) was not considered cost effective, pragmatic nor safe. Instead a novel application using Hollow-Glass-Spheres (HGS) was trialled, that demonstrated an effective and highly successful outcome. With 10 rigs drilling 60-70 wells per-year, each with 5,500 to 6,750m in the reservoir, quick resolution of the issue was required. For these reasons the Team at bp Russia looked carefully at alternatives that might fit the mud-window, but that offered a realistic approach for the environment and conditions in Eastern Siberia. The Team identified HGS as an approach to lighten the mud, often used for cementing ECD, application for drilling has been limited. For this approach we required an option with broad capabilities that could be scaled-up and exported to other development areas where such issues existed. This paper will report on the planning, delivery, and execution of a pilot on the Sb. field at TYNGD, in Eastern Siberia. Initially deployed on three wells, including multi-laterals, the paper will walk through the engineering considerations, during the planning and execution phases. Reporting comprehensively on the data gathered and the many lessons learned during the incremental and stepwise deployment. Data will be provided that demonstrated loss-free drilling was achieved where this had not occurred before, with a dramatic reduction in NPT, FLA needs and costs. The paper will also report on the post drilling productivity and comparison with offset wells drilled with conventional mud systems and suffering severe losses. The results of this pilot have beaten all expectations, there have been many insights and the Team are now looking to set a timetable to scale-up across the NOJV. Much has been learned, waste HGS material has been demonstrated to be an effective FLA pill in other sections of the well and centralisation of mud process may offer additional cost savings and improvements. Further efficiencies are expected to be achieved and potential across the Company portfolio could be a major game changer. HGS for cementing is well documented, application for drilling fluids has been less reported and almost exclusively applied to one-off sections/wells. The TYNGD application is novel as this is a major new development with 10 drilling rigs. Application is on multi-laterals and prior offset wells are available for direct comparison. The results of the approach demonstrate a new way of performing well construction in an effective manner for major Field Developments where losses are prevalent.

Nonlinear Finite-Element Analysis of Dual Support Breakaway Sign

1996 ◽  
Vol 1528 (1) ◽  
pp. 146-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gene W. Paulsen ◽  
John D. Reid
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
System Model ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Small Component ◽  
Sign System ◽  
Vehicle Crash ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Component Models ◽  
Crash Tests

Breakaway supports are common devices used for dual support signs located along the roadway. Design of these systems often involves several costly vehicle crash tests to ensure their effectiveness. It is believed that mathematical modeling can be used to help develop new sign systems in a more timely and cost-effective manner. To this end, a dual support breakaway sign system was successfully modeled using LS-DYNA3D, a nonlinear, large deformation finite-element package. Small component models were first constructed on critical parts of the breakaway sign system. The component models were compared with physical component tests to aid in the development process, as well as to validate the results. The components were then assembled into a complete system model. Very few changes were made in the complete sign model, because problems were worked out in component modeling. Results from two full-scale vehicle crash tests were used to validate the system model. With successful results, the model can now be used to study various sign modifications and configurations.

Results of a pilot study to examine the effective integration of apprentices into the industrial construction sector

2003 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 391-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aminah Robinson Fayek ◽  
Ahmed Shaheen ◽  
Ayo Oduba
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Skilled Workers ◽  
Industrial Construction ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
The Impact

The industrial construction sector in Alberta has recently undergone a period of rapid growth, resulting in a shortage of skilled workers in almost all of the major industrial sector trades. To meet these shortages, a need has arisen to increase the utilization of apprentices on industrial construction projects. In an effort to address this issue, the Construction Owners Association of Alberta has established a goal of developing an industry Best Practice on how to improve the on-the-job portion of apprenticeship training and identify means by which the industry can more effectively use apprentices. The challenge is to increase their usage in a cost-effective manner that also provides apprentices with adequate training opportunities. Before this can be done, the impacts and benefits to the various parties involved in industrial construction must be quantified and assessed. This paper describes the findings of a pilot study that was conducted on a major industrial project to help in quantifying the impact of the use of apprentices in the industrial construction sector and to identify methods of effectively increasing their use while simultaneously enhancing their on-the-job learning experience. The main conclusion of this paper is that apprentices can be effectively incorporated in industrial construction, and they can be both productive and cost-effective, provided they are given adequate instruction and supervision. The lessons learned from the study are discussed to provide insight into conducting future studies. Recommendations for an industry Best Practice on the effective utilization of apprentices are presented.Key words: apprentice, electrician, industrial construction, journeyman, labour force, pipefitter, productivity, training, work sampling.

Innovative manufacture of impulse turbine blades for wave energy power conversion

2002 ◽  
Vol 216 (7) ◽  
pp. 1053-1059 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Thakker ◽  
C Sheahan ◽  
P Frawley ◽  
H B Khaleeq
Keyword(s):  
Wave Energy ◽  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Power Conversion ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Impulse Turbine ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Cad Cam

An innovative approach to the manufacture of impulse turbine blades using rapid prototyping, fused decomposition modelling (FDM), is presented in this paper. These blades were designed and manufactured by the Wave Energy Research Team (WERT) at the University of Limerick for the experimental analysis of a 0.6m impulse turbine with fixed guide vanes for wave energy power conversion. The computer aided design/manufacture (CAD/CAM) package Pro-Engineer 2000i was used for three-dimensional solid modelling of the individual blades. A detailed finite element analysis (FEA) of the blades under centrifugal loads was performed using Pro-Mechanica. Based on this analysis and FDM machine capabilities, blades were redesigned. Finally, Pro-E data were transferred to an FDM machine for the manufacture of turbine blades. The objective of this paper is to present the innovative method used to design, modify and manufacture blades in a time and cost effective manner using a concurrent engineering approach.

scholarly journals Celebrating the World Breastfeeding Week in the Era of COVID-19 Pandemic in Southern Nigeria: Lessons Learned

2020 ◽  
pp. 46-57
Author(s):  
A. R. Nte ◽  
G. K. Eke
Keyword(s):  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Professional Associations ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Religious Activities ◽  
Good Opportunity ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Virtual Meetings ◽  
And Control

Background: The annual World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) celebration has been a period of massive interaction with stakeholders through various means and sharing of information related to the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding since its inception in 1992. However, with the advent of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and subsequent uncertainties about the fate of breastfeeding on one hand, and the imposed measures for COVID-19 infection prevention and control on the other, there was need to modify the traditional way of celebrating the Week to ensure that knowledge about the COVID-19-breastfeeding dyad is communicated to relevant stakeholders while complying with the COVID-19 preventive protocols. Aims: To share experiences and document lessons learned from the celebration of the 2020 WBW which can be reflected upon and used for improving on strategies to protect, promote and support breastfeeding even amidst the restrictions imposed by the protocols for the prevention and control of COVID-19 infection. Place of Study: University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Nigeria. Methodology: The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) Committee of the UPTH has celebrated the annual WBW every 1st to 7th August for the past 22 years (1997-2019). The reports of events of previous WBW Celebrations were retrieved and the format of the various activities was compared with that of activities for the 2020 WBW Celebration, which took place in the era of COVID-19 pandemic. The findings are presented in tables. Results: Activities for the celebration of WBW in the pre-COVID-19 era usually included physical meetings for the sensitisation of the hospital communities/stakeholders, radio/television sessions, information sharing in various places of religious activities and a rally to interact with the community people. During the COVID-19 pandemic, new strategies for celebration of the WBW were adopted, including among others, virtual meetings, decentralisation of sensitisation of the hospital’s clientele and a physical meeting for the sensitisation of the Hospital Management Committee. Positive outcomes of the 2020 Celebration included the management’s commitment to the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding, participation in the webinars by stakeholders from within and outside the hospital/Rivers State and establishment of collaborations with several partners. Lesson learned included among others, the celebration of the Week by many stakeholders, the reduced cost of celebration due to the absence of physical meetings and their attendant costs. The personalised invitation of all departments, units and professional associations secured their commitments to breastfeeding. Decentralising the celebration facilitated the adaptation of the messages to the needs of different clienteles and strengthening of members from different departments to promote, protect and support breastfeeding in their work environment. However, the poor participation of the hospital community in the virtual meetings attributable to lack of experience and the cost of participation were setbacks to the targets of the Committee. Conclusion: The era of the COVID-19 pandemic provided a good opportunity to engage stakeholders from within and outside the hospital for the support of breastfeeding as a safe infant feeding option in the midst of COVID-19 and introduced a new normal, the use of virtual meetings to promote, protect and support breastfeeding in a cost effective manner. The celebration of the Week reiterated the role of breastfeeding for ensuring planetary health which was being challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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