RELIABILITY OF SUBSEA PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
OBJECTIVE:
As subsea production systems become more prevalent in deepwater developments, the MMS has a need to better understand the reliability of subsea well systems in order to discharge their mission. The OTRC will work with MMS staff to assess the MMS’s roles, needs and interests relative to subsea production system reliability, and document the current state-of-practice of other regulatory agencies and the industry. These results can then be used as a basis for developing specific plans and projects to meet the MMS’s needs.
APPROACH:
A statement of MMS’s interests and roles in subsea production system reliability will be developed through discussions with MMS staff. A description of the current state-of -practice will be developed through interviews with other regulatory agencies, key operators and contractors plus monitoring ongoing industry activities. This information will be documented in an overall assessment that could then be used by the MMS as a basis to
· further refine MMS roles and needs,
· develop specific plans and projects to meet the MMS’s needs,
· articulate MMS roles and needs to the industry,
· determine how best to interface with the industry,PROJECT PLAN FOR 2003-2004:
Scope of Work: An assessment of MMS’s roles, interests, and needs in subsea production system reliability will be developed through discussions with MMS staff. These discussions would include developing descriptions of
- a common or working definition of subsea systems, equipment, and operations
- failures that characterize MMS interests and needs in subsea production system reliability
- current MMS data on subsea operations and failuresRegulatory agencies with significant subsea production responsibilities [e.g., HSE (UK), NPD (Norway), and ADP (Brazil)] would be interviewed to determine their current roles and activities concerning the reliability of subsea production systems.
Operators with significant subsea operations (e.g., Shell, Exxon, BP, and Petrobras) would be interviewed to develop an industry state-of-practice regarding the reliability of subsea production systems. Key contractors and equipment suppliers (e.g., FMC, ABB, Aker Kvaerner, and Cameron) would also be interviewed to determine their current programs and practices regarding equipment reliability.
OTRC would also gather information on ongoing industry activities by monitoring workshops (e.g., the upcoming DeepStar sponsored workshop) and other forums.
All information would then be summarized to provide an overall assessment on the MMS needs and interests plus the current state-of-practice of other regulatory agencies and the industry.
Anticipated Results: The final report would include an assessment of MMS’s needs and interests and the current state-of-practice in other regulatory agencies and the industry regarding subsea production system reliability, and recommended projects and activities to meet MMS needs.
ANTICIPATED PROJECT DURATION: 1 yearPRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR (S) & OTHERS INVOLVED IN PROJECT:
PI(s): R.S. Mercier, E.G. Ward, others TBA
Date: December, 2004
Project Title: Reliability of Subsea Systems
MMS Project: 492 TO Numbers: 74489/35987
PI: Richard Mercier
COTR: J. McNeilEstimated Completion Date: August 2005
Project Description: Work with MMS staff to assess the MMS’s roles, needs and interests relative to subsea production system reliability, and document the current state-of-practice of other regulatory agencies and the industry. Develop a description of the current state-of-practice through interviews with other regulatory agencies, key operators and contractors plus monitoring ongoing industry activities. This information will be documented in an overall assessment that could then be used by the MMS as a basis to
• further refine MMS roles and needs,
• develop specific plans and projects to meet the MMS’s needs,
• articulate MMS roles and needs to the industry,
• determine how best to interface with the industry.Progress: Through participation on the Steering Committee, OTRC continued extensive collaboration with a DeepStar project (CTR 6306/7301) focused on developing a subsea reliability data collection process acceptable to industry and the MMS. The short term (2-year) goal is to develop and seek industry consensus on a data collection process through inclusion in a new API recommended practice, API RP17N – Recommended Practice for the Achievement of Subsea Production System Reliability. To achieve this goal, work is being progressed in parallel by three separate subcommittees: Benchmarking, Marketing and Data Systems.
In 3Q and 4Q 2004 the Benchmarking Subcommittee identified a number of oil industry companies and other industries to survey, developed a benchmarking questionnaire on best practices in reliability data collection, and conducted a number of benchmarking interviews. The interview results were compiled, summarized and fed to the Data Systems Subcommittee for their use. At the same time, the Marketing Subcommittee continued to update and refine the “Master Presentation” that summarizes the project goals, plan and progress, and to seek opportunities to deliver the presentation at international and domestic stakeholder forums to seek industry support and feedback. The Data Systems team developed a preliminary scope and strategy for data collection. The Committee as a whole will re-group in 1Q 2005 to developed a more detailed plan to achieve the short term goal stated above by the end of 2005.
As the industry/DeepStar project directly supports and impacts the goals of this MMS-funded project, OTRC plans to continue to advance this project through collaboration with the DeepStar effort. As a member of the Steering Committee, the MMS (Jim Grant, Julie McNeil) have been kept up to date with all Committee activities through inclusion in email communications.
Date: June 2004
Project Name: Reliability of Subsea Production Systems
Project Number: 492 Task Order: 74489
Principal Investigators: Richard S. Mercier and E.G. Ward
Estimated Completion Date: August 2005
Project Description:
Work with MMS staff to assess the MMS’s roles, needs and interests relative to subsea production system reliability, and document the current state-of-practice of other regulatory agencies and the industry. Develop a description of the current state-of-practice through interviews with other regulatory agencies, key operators and contractors plus monitoring ongoing industry activities. This information will be documented in an overall assessment that could then be used by the MMS as a basis to
• further refine MMS roles and needs,
• develop specific plans and projects to meet the MMS’s needs,
• articulate MMS roles and needs to the industry,
• determine how best to interface with the industry.Progress:
Through participation on the Steering Committee, OTRC continued extensive collaboration with a DeepStar project (CTR 6306/7301) focused on developing a subsea reliability data collection process acceptable to industry and the MMS. The short term (2-year) goal is to develop and seek industry consensus on a data collection process through inclusion in a new API recommended practice, API RP17N – Recommended Practice for the Achievement of Subsea Production System Reliability.
In 1Q2004 the Steering Committee for the DeepStar project developed a roadmap for the 2-year effort to complete the subsea reliability data collection section of API RP17N. The Steering Committee then formed three subgroups to execute the roadmap:
1. a Benchmarking subgroup to survey and document best practices in reliability data collection in other areas of the oil & gas industry as well as in other industry and government sectors,
2. a Marketing subgroup to prepare various documents and presentations to communicate the project objectives and progress to industry and government sponsors and stakeholders,
3. a Data & Systems subgroup to develop functional specifications for the reliability data collection processes.
OTRC agreed to serve on the Benchmarking and Marketing subgroups.In 2Q2004 the Marketing subgroup developed a presentation that introduces the goals and plans for the API RP17N development effort, versions of which were delivered to the DeepStar Senior Advisory Committee and at the May 24-25 IQPC Subsea Reliability and Availability Conference in Aberdeen. The Benchmarking subgroup developed a list of target companies and government organizations that will be surveyed and a preliminary list of survey questions. The benchmarking survey will be conducted in 3Q2004.
As the industry/DeepStar project directly supports and impacts the goals of this MMS-funded project, OTRC plans to continue to advance this project through collaboration with the DeepStar effort. As a member of the Steering Committee, the MMS (Jim Grant) has been kept up to date with all Committee activities through inclusion in email communications.
Date: December 2003Project Name: Reliability of Subsea Production Systems
TEES Project Number: 32558-63450 MMS Task Order: 74489 MMS Project Number: 492
Principal Investigators: Richard S. Mercier and E.G. Ward
Estimated Completion Date: August 2004
Project Description:
Work with MMS staff to assess the MMS’s roles, needs and interests relative to subsea production system reliability, and document the current state-of-practice of other regulatory agencies and the industry. Develop a description of the current state-of-practice through interviews with other regulatory agencies, key operators and contractors plus monitoring ongoing industry activities. This information will be documented in an overall assessment that could then be used by the MMS as a basis to
§ further refine MMS roles and needs,
§ develop specific plans and projects to meet the MMS’s needs,
§ articulate MMS roles and needs to the industry,
§ determine how best to interface with the industry.Progress:
OTRC (R. Mercier) and MMS (J. Grant) agreed to serve on a Steering Committee that was formed in June, 2004 to provide guidance to the DeepStar project Workshop-Reliability Technology for Subsea Production Systems (CTR 6306). The Steering Committee met on July 23 and October 14 to plan the workshop. Seventy members of the subsea production industry participated in the workshop, which was held on November 6 in Houston, with the Steering Committee members leading the various discussion groups. The Steering Committee met again on November 18 to review and evaluate the results of the workshop, which clearly indicated a consensus on the need to improve the profitability and safety of subsea production systems through collection and use of some form of system and component reliability data.
At the November 18 meeting the Steering Committee started to develop a path forward to establish a subsea reliability data collection initiative. However it was soon realized that a more in-depth road map with multiple short term and long term initiatives would be needed in order to achieve the ultimate goal of having a functioning API/ISO-endorsed, industry-wide subsea reliability data collection process. Accordingly, the Steering Committee will meet on January 7 to conduct a professionally-facilitated road-mapping exercise to develop a 2-year and 5-year plan.