Page 77: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 1997)

The Application Of Advanced Composite Technology To Marine Drilling

Riser Systems: Design, Manufacturing And Test

Lightweight structures fabricat- ed using advanced composite materials have the potential to reduce life cycle costs for deepwa- ter field development by virtue of their corrosion resistance, fatigue tolerance and lower weight as com- pared to steel. An industry/univer- sity team began a project in April 1995 which involved applying advanced composite technology to marine drilling riser systems in order to accomplish these noted objectives.

The following describes the progress to date on the design, fab- rication and test of an advanced composite drilling riser pup joint: •A concept has been developed which appears to meet perfor- mance requirements, while provid- ing significant weight and cost benefits. •Two riser main body proto- types have been fabricated, one which has undergone a successful collapse pressure test. The second is scheduled for similar testing. •A choke and kill line pipe man- ufacturing prototype has under- gone pressure cycling and burst pressure testing with very positive results. •A plan is in place and progress is being made towards demon-

Deepwater Gulf Contract

Signed

Mobil Exploration & Producing

U.S. Inc. (MEPUS) and Phillips

Petroleum Co. signed a long-term rig contract with Falcon Drilling to explore for oil and gas in the deep- water Gulf of Mexico. The compa- nies said drillship Peregrine VI will be converted from 925.1-ft. (282-m), double-hulled, bulk/ore carrier Coastal Golden. Delivery of the vessel is expected in the fourth quarter of 1998. (See

Marine Finance section for more details.)

MEPUS and Phillips estab- lished an alliance in 1996 to joint- ly explore for oil and gas in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. The alliance reportedly holds joint interests in 123 blocks.

August, 1997 79 strating the utility of advanced composition drilling riser systems and their potential to reduce the life cycle costs of deepwater E&P.

The preceding was excerpted from a paper presented at this year's Offshore Technology

Conference by W.F. Andersen,

J.J. Anderson, C.S.

Mickelson /Northrop Grumman

Marine Systems; T.F.

Sweeney /ABB Vetco Gray.

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