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Case Study

Reducing Downtime, Risk, and Cost Exposure for Noble Energy

Following in situ wellbore pressure test of an ultra-deep water BOP, a leak was found, and the ModuSpec team saved the client millions.

Client

Noble Energy

Asset type

Ultra Deepwater Dynamically Positioned Drillship

Result

As a result of the recommended mitigation, without having to unlatch and pull the stack, all subsequent pressure tests on the ultra-deep-water BOP stack passed with no additional issues to report.

Client challenge

Our client Noble Energy, an independent exploration and production company, was conducting an initial seafloor wellbore pressure test of the blowout preventer (BOP) following a well hop in the Gulf of Mexico. During this, a leak was encountered on the lower annular BOP. The client contacted the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and was advised to send a letter from the operator, OEM, drilling contractor, and third party stating the recommendation to proceed would be given if this issue was witnessed during stump testing. Otherwise, the operator would be forced to pull the stack.

How we helped

ModuSpec was commissioned to support the maintenance, repair, testing, and regulatory compliance verification of the two BOP stacks. Based on a recommendation made by our BOP surveyor, the decision was made to strip the tool joint through the annular element to remove any potential debris, foreign material, or portions of elastomeric compounds, which could be preventing the seal. The pipe was stripped through the closed element, correctly spaced out again to facilitate testing and the test was repeated successfully. All subsequent pressure tests on this equipment passed with no additional issues to report. This solution effectively eliminated the downtime and occupational safety risk exposure associated with the retrieval, repair, and redeployment of the BOP stack. All parties involved noted the recommendation as being an effective lesson learned.

Results

All subsequent pressure tests on this equipment passed with no additional issues to report. The client reported savings of an estimated $15-20 million based on Noble Energy’s feedback. Our team managed to significantly mitigate occupational safety risks associated with retrieval, repair, and redeployment of the BOP stack.

We helped to make our client’s work environment a safer place for all employees on board and by increasing efficiency of the operation. This not only reduced risk and cost exposure to our client, but effectively helped in troubleshooting measures that can benefit the industry’s body of knowledge in this area.

With our support, we further demonstrated the value in our collective experience within the organisation.

$15-20m

The client reported savings of an estimated $15-20 million based o Noble Energy's feedback.

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