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Halliburton’s GeoBalance API 16RCD

Drilling

Testing facility where all GBA MPD equipment is designed and tested to applicable API standards.

Photo from Halliburton.

Industry set for

ABS

As a classifcation society, ABS is an independent, externally audited body that reviews plans, operational main- new MPD guidelines tenance, and surveys construction processes for its clients. Currently, ABS plans to publish the ABS Guide for

Classifcation of Drilling Systems (CDS

Guide) with an appendix for MPD rules,

Appendix 7.

Following ABS’ own discussion with 50 industry companies, including a mix of both operators and drilling contractors, the CDS Guide will be updated with the appendix available in early 2015. The systems, defnitions of document will include requirements for associated safety systems the design, construction, and commis- and requirements for well sioning of MPD systems, subsystems, and barriers and drawworks,” components onboard mobile offshore said Kenneth Vareide, drilling units (MODUs).

executive vice president of “ABS sees MPD as a growing trend offshore class at DNV GL, in offshore drilling and is currently upon release of the 2013 working on several MPD projects. MPD revision. “Our aim has is now being used offshore to facilitate been to take class a new drilling of previously un-drillable wells step forward by focusing and to enhance a well’s primary well on control, transparency barrier,” says Harish Patel, director of and effciency. In addition, offshore technology at ABS. “In addition the intention has been to to defning a new technology qualifca-

MPD equipment required ensure that the latest best tion standards approach to high-pressure, for a deepwater rig integration. practices and innovations high-temperature drilling, ABS is fnaliz-

Photo from Weatherford.

are rapidly implemented ing requirements that specify certifcation by the industry. The end for MPD systems, including (dual gradi-

American Petroleum Institute (API) are result will be improved ent drilling) DGD systems, and associated releasing their own set of MPD class rules safety.” subsea components.” and recommended practices at the end of However, as with any With the upward trend of MPD use 2H 2015. pioneering works, there and the ever present concern for safety, “API standards are recommended prac- are kinks to work out. Appendix 7 will provide ABS’ clients tices for conducting managed pressure “There are issues with guidelines to plan future operations.

Pacifc Drilling’s drillship, classed Pacifc Santa Ana drilling operations that apply across the within the original rules Appendix 7 will focus on offshore MPD by ABS, has been outftted with dual gradient drilling board,” says CJ Bernard, global business that industry is currently applications, and address needs unique to technology for Chevron’s operations in the Gulf of development manager at Halliburton’s working through with the offshore drilling operations. The guide-

Mexico. .Photo from Pacifc Drilling

Sperry Drilling GeoBalance group. class societies that hinged lines aim to help operators comply with

DNV “Everything from the planning aspects, more so on a misunderstanding of MPD the rules and requirements associated to well control event identifcation, In 2011, DNV became the frst classif- operations and intent,” Bernard says. with drilling in the US offshore, as well response and management, to equipment cation society to have general rules for In response to this, DNV GL spokes- as provide greater reliability and con- design, selection and testing, to equip- MPD systems on board DNV-classes drill- man Kristian Lindøe said in a statement sistency to lower potential risks during ment requirements, so they have to do ing units with the class notation Drill(N). to OE that the company works with the offshore operations. Because the MPD more specifcally with MPD operations. A more detailed set of requirements were industry to update their rules on a con- system and all of its subsystems will be “Whereas classifcation societies (ABS, released in the update of DNV-OS-E101 tinual basis. considered a part of the primary well

DNV & Lloyds) speak to requirements of in 2013. This revision is currently being Handal furthers this point saying: “Our barrier system, all associated components the equipment as it relates to interactions used to classify and certifed MPD sys- updates build on experience from the used in MPD operations will require ABS with the other ‘classed’ drilling equip- tem, says DNV GL’s Arne Handal, Ph.D, application of these standards, so review- design approval and an ABS survey for ment on the rig,” says Bernard, who also principal engineer for drilling and well ing and addressing industry concerns installation, to be classed by ABS.

serves as class society task force chair on intervention, in a comment to OE. are considered as part of the updating In the case of DGD systems, a type of the International Association of Drilling “The new standard includes require- process along with safety and technology MPD, no specifc US requirements existed

Contractors (IADC) MPD committee. ments for managed pressure drilling developments.” prior to the application of the frst DGD oedigital.com February 2015 | OE 43 042_OE0215_D&C1_Jerry.indd 43 1/20/15 6:24 PM