Phase VIII Projects

8000 – Geosciences Committee

This committee was newly created in Phase VIII and no projects were produced for this committee in this phase.

8100 – Regulatory Committee

The objective of this CTR is to identify the regulatory issues associated with the implementation of new enabling or enhancing technology early and to reduce the cycle time associated with the new technology acceptance and implementation. It will also identify key elements of the regulatory issues for review and technical work by the technical sub committees of DeepStar.

To review the new proposed Early Production Systems and sub systems like risers, artificial lift, etc. against the existing regulatory framework and specific industry standards and specifications to determine if any gaps exist and to outline an action plan on addressing those (regulatory) gaps.

8200 – Flow Assurance Committee

In previous phases of DeepStar, projects 6201 and 7201 have led to the creation of a hydrate kinetic and plugging module (CSMHYK) that is commercially available in OLGA 2000.

A systematic investigation of a typical subsea tieback utilizing OLGA-CSMHYK has indicated that in a majority of cases likely encountered in the field, hydrate formation rate will be dictated by the rate of heat transfer from the pipe. This work leads to the conclusion that future work on this project should focus on the nature and rheology of the hydrate slurry formed rather than hydrate kinetics.

This phase of the project would improve the time-dependent model developed in CTR 7201, which has been shown to be useful to flow assurance design in its elementary form. The existing model’s assumptions, weaknesses, and inaccuracies will be improved. Improvements will be focused on the prediction of the emulsion state, hydrate morphology and crystal size distribution, hydrate agglomeration and the rheology of the resultant slurry. Improvements will be made to the model in these areas with supporting data taken in experiments on the macro and micro scale.

A sensitivity study will be conducted to determine the model limitations and largest assumptions, and the most sensitive model parameters. Model improvements will be pulled into OLGA. Important flow assurance findings from flow loop and flowline modeling will be presented.

This is a new CTR that is directly linked to CTR 7202-1. In CTR 7202-1, the focus is on understanding the impact of just oil chemistry on the ability of oils to transport hydrate slurries. In this CTR 8200-D, the focus is on measurement and modeling of particle dynamics, interparticle forces, and rheological properties of hydrate slurries formed from oils being studied in CTR 7202-1. Between these two CTRs, the objective is to couple oil chemistry, rheology, and particle dynamics in a systematic fashion to begin to identify key parameters impacting the operational envelope for oils to naturally create and transport hydrate slurries.

Develop test methodology and simulation tools to forecast the occurrence and magnitude of deposition of asphaltenes.

Experimental and computational advances are needed to anticipate asphaltene deposition problems.

• The existing asphaltene deposition test will be used to examine a range of crude oils at supersaturated conditions with respect to asphaltenes to provide input and understanding into modeling the occurrence and severity of asphaltene deposits. Experimental data will include information about the oil chemistry, asphaltene stability and distribution, and deposit characteristics,
• Theories of deposit formation that include important kinetic effects on deposit morphology will be modeled and tested.

In addition to accurate identification of deposition problems, this work will significantly reduce the risk associated with production of oils that might have tendency to precipitate asphaltenes, but not to form deposits. This will be done by developing an understanding of the mechanisms of asphaltene deposition, validatation of the deposition test apparatus, and will potentially lead to strategies for avoiding deposition problems.

Built from the original CTR objective to derive some key relationships between fluid properties, operating conditions and plugging tendencies of crude oil systems, and to complete the findings uncovered in prior DeepStar phase studies, the report highlights various tests (e.g. restart tests, low spot tests, emulsion stability tests, etc.) conducted on multiple fluids (Buttermilk, Caratinga, Troika, Conroe, Blake, and Citgo 19). Several models were completed and validated from these tests.

The objective of this CTR is to develop recommended practices for subsea cold earth start-up of Gas wells (high and low condensate yields), Oil wells ( high and low GOR, high and low water cut), HPHT Gas wells, and HPHT Oil wells.

8300 – Subsea Systems Committee

Previous JIPs have demonstrated and qualified threaded connectors for pipelines; and, previous DeepStar studies have demonstrated feasibility of drilling unit J-lay capability. DeepStar has a unique opportunity to consolidate the industry knowledge and define the equipment and process (procedures) to qualify mechanically coupled flowlines and risers systems as “Project Ready.

This work will also define the operational processes and services required to proceed with an actual installation using a drilling rig and an anchor handling boat and/or identify any operational gaps. Actual example cases will illustrate the use of this process.

The originally defined objective of this effort was to develop, refine, and document best practices for the deployment and use of current-technology multiphase and wet gas meters in deepwater subsea tiebacks.

The report, lead by the Letton-Hall Group, covers the areas of communication with subsea meters, effects of fouling on meter performance, strategies for subsea meter verification, subsea flow measurement uncertainty, deepwater subsea sampling, PVTi Issues in deepwater metering, fault-tolerant subsea multiphase measurement, placement and integration of deepwater meters.

This CTR's objective is to develop a design framework borrowed that can be used to assess and/or bolster the inherent functional integrity of the multiphase metering system at the FEED stage.

To assess the value of the All-Electric solution or system variants compared to the conventional EH-MUX

The objective of this CTR is to develop a preliminary design of the hybrid pressure vessel, have this design certified in principle by a classification society, establish a technico-economic evaluation including procurement, fabrication, & installation, and prepare a qualification plan based on the manufacturing of a scaled prototype.

8400 – Floating Systems Committee

Dual Casing Top-Tensioned Risers

The objective for this CTR is to demonstrate that excessive weight of risers can be managed with improved analytical methods and riser components.

Obtain an expanded dataset of riser response in sheared currents as a follow up to the DeepStar 7402 Multi-Mode Test Program. The aim would be to generate an expanded set of high L/D riser data in a broad range of shear profiles. Refine empirical, CFD and system identification tools developed in Phase VII. Derive valid empirical models based on the new dataset, benchmark and deploy for project application.

The industry has taken some initial steps toward formulating more general models (both empirical and CFD) for long risers. The expanded database from realistic, high L/D shear profiles will enable these models to be populated with accurate empirical data and effectively benchmarked.

The aim of this CTR is to: Define the functional specifications of an FPSO EPS, station-keeping and Riser system to be used as an early production system for deep water fields in GOM; Study availability and qualitative risk assessment of FPSO EPS for the GOM field; Determine Regulatory requirements for FPSO EPS in GOM; Compare system with FPSO EPS to ensure compliance or determine differences; Determine the basic riser system requirements for typical isolated fields based on well fluid properties and production plan in deep water GoM; Select most feasibile riser concept for EPS FPSO; Conduct detail global riser configuration design; Perform in-place riser response analysis; Design interface between riser and EPS FPSO hull; Design disconnection system for riser; Study the reuse of the riser system; Identify the technology gaps; Outline the riser installation procedure; Estimate Budgetary cost and schedule for riser system; An independent, 3D Coupled motion analyses of EPS and riser system (Petrobras/Sao Paulo University - Brazil); Comparison between analyses results by Technip and Petrobras/Sao Paulo University.

waters in GoM

The overall objective of this proposal is to develop and engineer a technically sound and cost-effective hybrid riser system with a disconnectable turret moored FPSO in the ultra-deepwaters of GoM. Both use of bundle tower(s) and multiple single hybrid risers will be studied. If a similar riser system is selected in CTR 8403, this study will build upon the outcome of CTR 8403 and aim at closing some of the gaps identified in CTR 8403. While CTR 8403 will be more a conceptual study with no detailed analysis, this study will go into the details on important aspects to make the system more project ready. Hence planned start when relevant input from CTR 8403 is available. Additionally, this CTR will identify testing requirements to make the riser system project ready and identify fabrication yards for ultra-deepwater riser tower in GoM area. The study will not cover FPSO design and offloading aspects (assumed gas export through riser system).

8500 – Drilling and Completion Committee

The objective is to establish the feasibility of removing and replacing the SCSSV in subsea wells with a simpler and safer well integrity system.

The objective of this study is to evaluate current existing artificial lift techniques and the feasibility of artificial lift in the deepwater environment for extreme TD, subsea applications.

Use APB design and analysis techniques and apply them to the Canopy and Diablo well examples. Develop a set of analyses and design methodologies for the proper handling of APB problems so deepwater & HPHT drilling engineers know when APB may be an issue on upcoming wells, and set the basis of design for casing designs that can handle the temperature-induced loads due to APB. Develop mitigation strategies for APB.

8700 – Reservoir Engineering Committee

Determine if there is a pore pressure threshold above which the probability of finding commercial hydrocarbon substantially diminishes. Define the threshold and its associated strengths and weaknesses. Understand the mechanism associated with low pressure reservoirs (located in a high pressure environment) and determine if there is a way to predict their occurrence.

Better characterize reservoir continuity through continuous pressure monitoring in abandoned appraisal wells. Applicable during both appraisal phase and early production phase.

8800 – Met-Ocean Committee

To investigate the likelihood that the 2005 hurricane season can simply be explained by a rare but possible combination of events.

To develop a validated model that can estimate the strong currents known to exist along the Sigsbee Escarpment (Walker Ridge and Atwater Valley Blocks). The model will be used for estimating extremes likely to be experienced during exploration drilling and for developing the design basis for production risers and pipelines. Note, that the intent is not to develop a forecast model as that would be far too ambitious and effort at this point.

8900 – Systems Engineering Committee

This CTR provides resources for the System Engineering Committee to perform techno-economic studies of opportunity to evaluate new technologies and novel application of current technology as they are identified by the technical committee.

Bridge the gap from emerging technology status to project ready status by developing a process for technology qualification that will enable:

• A project to develop a stakeholder aligned technology qualification plan that will take a technology to a project, and operations qualified state as per schedule and cost and have it deliver on agreed performance expectations.
• The technologist / vendor to evaluate the current state of technology readiness, define a qualification plan, provide a decision gate process for technology development.
• A common industry language, a communication tool, on technology readiness and qualification requirements.
• Align the process and metrics adopted by both user (purchaser) and vendor communities.