Swelling Elastomer Applications in Petroleum Drilling and Development

Oil and gas drilling and development is witnessing new and inventive techniques targeted at increased production from difficult and aging wells. As depth of an oil or gas well increases, higher temperatures and harsher environments are encountered. Suitable elastomers can provide good sealing as they possess good resistance to heat and chemical attack, and as they are widely availability at low cost. In comparison with metals, elastomers are lighter in weight and lesser in stiffness and hardness, swell more with increasing temperature, and are usually better in corrosion resistance. Other reasons for their preference include excellent damping and energy absorption, more flexibility and longer life; good sealing even with moisture, heat, and pressure; negligible toxicity; good moldability; and flexible stiffness. As mentioned in chapter-1, swelling elastomers or gels have found extensive use in different applications including drug delivery, microfluidics, biomedical devices, scaffolds for tissue engineering, biosensors, etc. As the main focus of this book is the oil and gas industry, implementation of swelling elastomer technology and deployment in different petroleum applications are discussed below.

Numerical investigation of tubular expansion and swelling elastomers in oil wells

Solid expandable tubular technology and swelling elastomer seals find extensive use in the repair of aging reservoirs. To improve productivity and cost-effectiveness, they have also become an integral part of new developments such as slim wells and completions with reduced or no cementing. This work reports the use of numerical simulation to investigate the joint use of expandable tubulars and swell packers in various petroleum drilling applications. Material properties of steel tubular and five different swelling elastomers are obtained through mechanical testing. Simulations are performed to study the sealing pressure at the elastomer-formation boundary. Different parameters are studied, such as elastomer material, expansion or compression ratio, seal length, seal thickness, tubular end condition, and formation type. Higher values of rubber elasticity, tubular expansion (expansion ratio), and elastomer compression result in higher seal contact pressure. Contact pressure is higher when the elastomer is pressing against wellbore formation as compared to steel outer casing (zero friction vs. friction), and when the formation is assumed to be rigid as compared to elastic or elastic-plastic. Results of this investigation can be used both for performance evaluation and design enhancement of coupled solid-expandable-tubular and swellable-packer applications.

The Contract Regime for Unitisation and the Impact of Production Sharing Contracts on Joint Development in Nigeria

Unitisation has evolved globally as the best mechanism for the joint development of hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs that straddle two or more concessions or licenses. The concept of unitisation is underpinned by the need to avoid competitive exploitation of hydrocarbon resources, maximise its economic recovery, eliminate proliferation of production facilities and reduce development and operating cost.1 The practice of unitisation in the Nigerian oil and gas landscape has gained traction over the years with several straddle fields identified as candidates for unitisation and more than ten (10) agreements for joint development (both Pre Unitisation Agreements and Unitisation and Unit Operating Agreements) executed in the industry. This has occurred under a regulatory regime for unitisation that has evolved from the concise provisions of Section 48 of the Petroleum (Drilling and Production) Regulation 1969 as amended, to the robust Guidelines for Unitisation issued by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in 2008 (revised in 2019) (Guidelines) in response to the complexities of joint development encountered by parties. While the Guidelines is an excellent attempt at providing a process for unitisation, it does not provide sufficient guidance on the contract regime for unitisation as the bedrock for joint development. A critical look at the contracts governing joint development in the light of global best practices is important to ensure that it meets in an effective manner the objectives of unitisation. A review of the contract regime for unitisation would be incomplete without recognising the impact that underlying contracts governing separate concessions have on unitisation. To this end, the posture of Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) on gas development in a unit is worth reviewing in the light of the benefits of commercialising gas to the State and the Contractor. This paper reviews the contract regime for unitisation in Nigeria as regulated by the Guidelines and the impact that underlying contracts (particularly PSCs) have on unitisation. The paper will proffer recommendations for inclusion in the Guidelines with a view to improving the process of joint development of shared reservoirs in Nigeria.

The Value Additions of Oil and Gas Industry Service Permit in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry

The Department of Petroleum Resources, Nigeria's oil and gas industry regulator, is an opportunity provider and business enabler. Using regulatory instruments such as Licenses, Approvals and Permits, the Department has enabled investors to unlock opportunities in the Upstream, Midstream and Downstream sectors of the industry. The Oil and Gas Industry Service Permit (OGISP) is a mandatory requirement for all service providers rendering or engaged to render technical service to the industry, in accordance with section 60A of the amended Petroleum (Drilling & Production) Regulations, 1988. Since its establishment, the Department has issued over a million permits to service providers in various areas of specialization. This paper examines the OGISP system framework; OGISP application process and requirements for permit issuance; benefits of OGISP to the industry and the Nigerian economy; and recommendations to improve the OGISP system.

The Steel Truss Tower (Derricks) Structure Evaluation In Buckling Analysis

Tarakan was an oil-producing city had been known since 1896 that were explored in first time in authorized by Bataavishe Petroleum Maatchapij (BPM). The derrick was a petroleum drilling facility that were performed in steel truss structure. The derrick prototype had been modeled in 3D truss by utilizing SAP2000. The models had been classified into 2 models: perfect and imperfect models. The imperfections denoted by the percentage of elements loses (IM20, IM24), and IM16). Buckling analysis consisted in linear and nonlinear analysis had been evaluated. The 3D solid model (Abaqus) also performed for single element buckling. The results showed that perfect derrick model satisfied the strength and stability requirement . The percentage of element loss reduced the capacity 9.45%-37.83%. The IM16 model buckled at 4.27 T were based on nonlinear analysis and 18.50 T were based on linear analysis. The single elemen buckling was 20,63% of the largest compressive element