Page 45: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Feb/Mar 2013)

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Drilling & Completions /

HELGEHANSENSTATOIL

A streamlined approach to tubular management

Until recently, most aspects of improving connection integrity

Weatherford has been tubular handling and running and the capabilities of third- and mobilizing a bucking preparation have been carried out fourth-generation rigs. And it

U on the rig ? oor offshore, a process is not just operators calling for unit equipped with that requires signi? cant manual such services in that country; torque/turn process handling. Typically, tubulars were after the 2010 Macondo oil spill control systems to an shipped to the rig and laid out on in the Gulf of Mexico, Australian pipe racks while processes such as regulatory agencies such as the operator’s onshore cleaning, tallying, thread inspection National Offshore Petroleum Safety

Australian support and drifting were carried out off & Environmental Management base and providing line by the rig crew, before the Authority (NOPSEMA) are calling pipe could be run in the hole. The for stricter safety and environmental full pipe preparation. number of personnel required to controls on many offshore

Weatherford’s Aaron manually carry out these operations operations, including tubular on a rig deck of limited space management and running.

Sinnott explains introduced signi? cant risks to safety Weatherford has advanced its how these services and ef? ciency. tubular management services signi? cantly reduced While newer offshore drilling approach to answer these rigs are equipped with auxiliary requirements, by shifting these operating costs.

pipe make-up stations and racking processes to onshore operating systems for of? ine pipe handling bases where better control and and preparation – which can a more automated preparation provide major cost savings – they strategy can be established. have lingering limitations. For 5 8 example, the capacity for 13/in Tubular management diameter and larger casing that can Tubular management services be racked in the derrick is usually comprise several key functions that lower than the amount required for are conducted dockside, including: hole sections in deeper wells. Pipe cleaning. Incoming tubular As a result, service companies joints are received and cleaned that normally provide tubular onshore, using a pressure-driven

Expert AccessExpert AccessExpert Access running services are now assuming cleaning unit and then dried responsibility for all aspects of internally with compressed air.

Join Aaron Sinnott of Weatherford Join Aaron Sinnott of Weatherford on 26 February at 11:00 CST for a tubular management, such that This helps satisfy NOPSEMA’s

Live Presentation and Q&A session there is a cohesive focus on environmental legislation that on the importance of handling drilling operations. In Australia restricts the disposal of any waste tubulars in an ef? cient and for example, service providers are into the sea, particularly around effective way to minimize their being called upon to deliver tubular some sensitive locations such as impact on offshore personnel and handling and running services that marine parks. equipment. reduce ? at time, manual handling Thread inspection. The thread

See page 90 for more information.

and environmental hazards, while protectors on each joint are oedigital.com February 2013 | OE 47 oe_D&C.indd 47 31/01/2013 10:48