Deepwater Rig Selection

Well Engineering Services to the Oil & Gas Industry

Deepwater Drilling Rig Selection

The single biggest contract in a deepwater exploration (and possibly development) drilling programme is the rig typical rate today from $450k to $650k/day Current rig market does not give the operator too much choice rig availability likely to be limited schedule may be affected might have to consider lower specification rigs than ideal Need to consider does the rig meet the minimum technical capability taking into account water depth, metocean conditions, worst case mud weights

if there is a choice of rig, what are the advantages/disadvantages of various designs cost vs time look at the overall well cost rather than rig day rate

Rig Selection Considerations

Cost Item Rig Specification Considerations

Mobilisation

Location costs

Rig positioning

Estimate time to transit to location if rig on day rate during mobilisation. Estimate cost for support vessels if required during transit. Are additional surveys required for anchoring purposes? Different Drilling Contractors may have different requirements. Estimate cost of mooring modifications (additional wire or chain) and installation of pre-lay equipment if required. Consider the time to set up DP or run anchors based on offset wells. Estimate the cost of anchor handling vessels. Risk assessment based on metocean and well conditions. If surface stack approach safe, estimate cost savings if any. If rig upgrade is required can cost be justified Estimate the net time savings likely to result from dual derrick operations when considering a rig with this specification. Review offset wells to verify time reduction expected for a given well design

Can surface BOP be used safely?

Dual Operations Capability

Rig Selection Considerations

Cost Item Rig Specification Considerations

Rig Efficiency

Typical times for standard operations, such as BOP running may vary significantly between different rigs due to equipment capability and crew experience. Review the recent performance of candidate rigs to estimate average downtime from equipment failure. An element for rig downtime should be included in overall project cost, as this will increase cost of logistics and services. If rig modifications are required for any aspect of the work scope, costs must be included in overall estimate. Are incumbent services companies on rig satisfactory? If major service company equipment, such as cement unit or ROV need to be installed or changed out, costs must be factored into rig evaluation. Cost of equipment not supplied by the Rig Contractor must be included in the evaluation. This may include drillpipe of the required specification, solids control equipment etc.

Rig Reliability

Rig Modifications 3rd Party Costs

Additional Equipment

Deepwater Drilling Rig Types

There are 2 basic hull types

Semi-submersible

Ship

Semi submersible vs drillship

Semi-sub advantages motion characteristics suited to most (but not all) ocean conditions provides a stable platform for drilling and completion operations Semi-sub disadvantages variable deck load and deck space can be limited relatively slow transit speed may require tow vessels to move (modern DP semis are fully self-propelled) Drillship advantages relatively fast transit (it is a ship) most drillship designs (but not all) can accommodate large loads of casing, mud chemicals and other supplies in below deck holds

Drillship disadvantages less stable than a semi-sub, less suited for harsh environments

Motion response

Motion of a floating rig is described by Heave, Pitch, Roll, Surge, Sway and Yaw Response of the vessel to a given seastate is calculated using the RAO Response Amplitude Operator function of wave height and wave period varies depending on direction of wave (head, beam, quartering)

Heave, surge and sway RAO is dimensionless (m/m)

if heave RAO = 0.3 m/m, then in 10m wave, vessel will heave 3m Pitch, roll and yaw RAO is /m if pitch RAO = 0.5 /m, then in 10m wave, vessel will roll 5

RAO Comparison
Heads Seas RAO
1.6000

1.4000 4th Generation Sem i Heave RAO 4th Generation Sem i Pitch RAO 1.2000 5th Generation Drillship Heave RAO 5th Generation Drillship Pitch RAO

Heave RAO m/m

1.0000

0.8000

0.6000

0.4000

0.2000

0.0000 0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 Wave Period 20.0 25.0 30.0

Motion Response

Wave period is key

Typical North Sea rough weather, 10-14 second waves

drillship heave response is OK compared to semi drillship pitch response worse than semi

North Atlantic Storm, 14-19 second waves semi pitch and heave response is relatively good

drillship pitch and heave response is relatively poor

Very long ocean swells >19 second period can give the semi submersible problems as wave period approaches the heave natural frequency

such seas can occur in some open ocean areas

Riser Tension and Hookload Capacity

In deep water and harsh environment/high current location, riser tensioning capacity may be critical requirement riser analysis essential to determine string configuration and top tension requirements

riser tensioning capacity varies considerably <1 million lbs to >5 million lbs

A heavy riser string will place considerable demands on the rig when running BOP string weight in excess of 1.5 million lbs may be required in some situations riser design may not permit fully buoyant string additional acceleration loads due to rig heave

derrick and travelling equipment must be up to the task

BOP and Riser Equipment

Depending on location, certain riser ancillary equipment may be essential or nice to have Will depend on rig specification and operating conditions, e.g.

riser recoil control riser fill up valve riser hang off joint

BOP configuration must be fit for purpose

ram cavities, casing shear rams for DP operation

define minimum specification based on risk assessment

Dual Derrick Rigs

Dual Derrick Rigs

Many deepwater rigs (most 6th generation) both semi and ship have some degree of dual activity capability significant time savings possible in deepwater

drill top hole, run surface casing while running BOP in development drilling, can very efficiently install subsea trees pick up and rack drillpipe, casing offline

20-30% time saving possible, depending on operations

can offset day rate premium

Best suited to short duration exploration and development drilling high percentage of open water work Needs good planning a and offshore supervision to be effective Technical and safety issues cannot be ignored (e.g. clashing of strings)

The Deepwater Fleet

Around 100-110 mobile rigs capable of operating in >3000 ft Water depth This reduces to around 80-90 rig rated for >4,500 ft +/- 30 drillship all DP +/- 25 dynamic positioning capable semis submersibles (some with mooring) +/- 30 moored semi submersibles Includes 3rd, 4th, 5th Generation Rigs This year a number of new 6th generation rigs are being delivered There is an unprecedented new build programme in progress +/-53 new deepwater rigs due in next 3-5 years +/-35 semi submersibles +/-18 drillships

almost all the new build floating rigs are rated for >6500 feet water depth all dynamically positioned, some of the semis have mooring capability

The Deepwater Fleet

6th Generation

2010

The Deepwater Fleet

The Deepwater Fleet

Pre 2008 >4500 ft Rig Types

Over next 3-7 years >60% increase in >4500 ft capable DW fleet

+/-85 rigs

increasing use of DP semi/drillship proportion remains similar

Moored Semi 35%

DP Ship 36%

DP semi 29%

+/-140 rigs
Moored Semi 22%

2015 >4500 ft Rig Types

DP Ship 35%

New building more popular than upgrade

DP semi 43%

Larger rigs Innovative ideas for extending capability of older rigs has stalled High oil price!