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Risk Assessment for Dry Tree Tieback Alternatives Study

Office/Division Program
TAP
Project Number
280
Research Initiation Date (Award Date)
Research Performing Activity
Aker Engineering
Research Principal Investigator
Riley G. Goldsmith
Research Contracting Agency
Description

This project evaluates the risk costs of three alternative design concepts for a deepwater Dry Tree Tieback well systems (well systems that extend the wellbore to a Christmas tree located on the production vessel (TLP, Spar)). The three design analyzed are:

1) dual casing riser;

2) single casing riser; and

3) tubing riser.

Each riser system was analyzed at two water depths (4,000'and 6,000'), with two platform types (SPAR and TLP), and with both 6 and 12 wells tied into the platform. Phase I of this study (MMS did not participate) estimated costs for capital expenditure and operating expenditure for different dry tree riser configurations.

Latest progress update

Completed. This project evaluated the risk costs of three alternative design concepts for a deepwater Dry Tree Tieback well systems (well systems that extend the wellbore to a Christmas tree located on the production vessel (TLP, Spar)). The three design analyzed are:

1) dual casing riser;

2) single casing riser; and

3) tubing riser.

Each riser system was analyzed at two water depths (4000'and 6000'), with two platform types (SPAR and TLP), and with both 6 and 12 wells tied into the platform. Phase I of this study (MMS did not participate) estimated costs for capital expenditure and operating expenditure for different dry tree riser configurations.

The study used fault tree analysis to determine the safety of the three riser designs. All of the scenarios mentioned above were evaluated. The study also looked at both normal producing operations and the safety of well interventions (i.e. workovers). Statistical failure records were used where available, but engineering judgment was often used to assign reliability values to components.

Results of the analysis can be summarized as follows: environment. This system benefits from the fact that dual independent barriers exist even without a mud column during well interventions. environment. ( This seemingly counter-intuitive result is explained by the fact that the tubing riser is removed and a separate workover riser is installed for well interventions). environment and the highest calculated total cost.