BP Gulf Coast Oil Spill Q/A 1

[ninja99]

Informational and brainstorming thread about the recent coastal oil spill. Petroleum engineers' professional opinions greatly appreciated!

The story thus far:

Press release:

http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=2012968&contentId=7062470

Live cam:

http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_int...local_assets/bp_homepage/html/rov_stream.html

Related articles:

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6490509n&tag=contentMain;contentAux

http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/

http://www.api.org/Newsroom/safetyresponse/index.cfm

Some questions:

With the doubled pressure on the underwater rig (due to mud being pumped against the oil flow), could the structural integrity be weakened? What are some of the worst-case-scenarios if this were to happen?

What are some other methods to resolve the situation? Be it via relief well, junk shot, etc.

What are the long term effects on the surrounding area?

 

[owg]

I thought the engines would stall if they got nothing but fuel. I suppose the methane came in one side first and the engines ran richer and faster before stalling.

HAZOP at

http://www.curryhydrocarbons.ca

 

[waross]

In the heavy oil fields,we are not allowed to drive a diesel pickup truck until it has been fitted with a shutdown flap valve because of a very small possibility of gas ingestion.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[ewh]

Fascinating discussion!
Regarding the OPs last question, it's not just the local area that will be effected (though they will for sure hurt the most) but also a significant part of the lower US. Consider that it will be August before the relief wells are in place. Hurricane season starts today. Hurricanes have been known to carry salt and plankton far inland, and Katrina went right up the Mississippi river valley and almost made it as far as Ohio before petering out. Imagine our heartland getting rain after rain of oil on the crops. And this is supposed to be an especially active hurricane season.
(Cue R.E.M. ITEOTWAWKI)

"Good to know you got shoes to wear when you find the floor." - [small]Robert Hunter[/small]

 

[zdas04]

Anyone willing to listen to a bp executive not filtered through a government or media set of biases, might like to watch the video at

http://bp.concerts.com/gom/kentwells_update24052010.htm

Kent Wells is a Sr VP of Exploration and Production for bp and his presentation has a bit of propaganda in it, but mostly he's trying to explain what is underway. Unfortunately the video was made before the top kill evolution failed, but he does have a good explanation of what it is.

David

 

[unclesyd]

For those who may have missed the link here is one of the live feeds from BP. They getting ready to cut the drilling riser to shorten it prior to using the wire saw on same at the top of the BOP.

http://www.livestream.com/wkrg_oil_spill

 

[owg]

Thanks again to all the folks who provide answers to these dumb questions. One more - if the flange under the cut could be removed nut by nut, then bolting just one valve on top of the BOP might be able to control or stop the flow. And it would not be as heavy as a second BOP, so it may not need additional support.

HAZOP at

http://www.curryhydrocarbons.ca

 

[waross]

I second the thank you.
Given BP's performance so far, cutting the riser scares the hell out of me. I'm glad I live 2000 miles away. My sympathies with those of you who are closer.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[unclesyd]

As I understand it there is a piece of drill pipe, part of approximately 4000' total length hanging below the BOP, bent along with the riser. There are several questions about this pipe, if they unbolt the flange, my first thought, they would still have he drill pipe hanging on at the kink. Is the drill pipe partially sheared our sheared enough to part and cause all manner of chaos. Even in cutting the riser and drill pipe together they don't know how this pipe is supported.

The pucker factor is quite high on the rig.

 

[unclesyd]

It looks like Poseidon is getting angry.
Taken from aboard the Discover Enterprise sitting on top of the event horizon.

http://my.engineering.com/pg/file/unclesyd/read/292365/

http://my.engineering.com/pg/file/unclesyd/read/292363/

http://my.engineering.com/pg/file/unclesyd/read/292364/

They stated that the pucker factor is getting higher by the minute as no one knows the amount of gas they can expect when they start getting new riser working.

 

[unclesyd]

i think I fixed the first link, the best.

 

[waross]

I'll bet the pucker factor on the rig is exceeded by the pucker factor in the head office.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[owg]

unclesyd, I was assuming they cut the pipe away before they unbolt the flange.

HAZOP at

http://www.curryhydrocarbons.ca

 

[unclesyd]

As I understand it they will not unbolt the flange. The LMRP will seal against the saw cut face on the drilling riser. This is the primary reason for using the diamond wire saw.

This is a much smaller version of the type saw that cut the Russian submarine Kursk in two pieces to allow for the recovery.

 

[owg]

Is there any information out there on the quality of the stuff that is being recovered from the second cap. BP has announced that they will dispose of it by burning it. People are asking why not refine it. I would expect that the quality would be a lot better than skimmed oil, or tar balls. However it could have emulsifier, seawater, brine from the formation, and gas in it.

HAZOP at

http://www.curryhydrocarbons.ca

 

[unclesyd]

The quality is very good light sweet at 35 to 39 API and is being sent to be refined. They are going through the regulatory process to get an oil lighter from the North Sea permission to operate in the Gulf, it may take and act of Congress. The Enterprise has only limited storage capacity and is flow limited by the amount of NG it can flare.
The net profits from the oil will go to the the Wildlife Groups, so said.

 

[owg]

Thanks unclesyd.

HAZOP at

http://www.curryhydrocarbons.ca

 

[zdas04]

Unclesyd,
I was fine with your post till the last phrase. I wish you'd said "net proceeds" instead of "net profits". They're spending upwards of $100 million/day. They'll sell the oil for something like $500k/day. The "profit" is a "loss". The $500k will be going into the wildlife groups anyway.

David

 

[ewh]

Good catch... don't want the wildlife groups having to pay the difference!;-)

"Good to know you got shoes to wear when you find the floor." - [small]Robert Hunter[/small]

 

[unclesyd]

I've heard both and use net profits based on a statement that define the ammount the birds would receive. The description was a specific breakdown per bbl of oil recovered during this operation minus the usual deductions for lease royalties, which will have to be paid to the feds, some fee to Louisiana and a couple of others. If I recall the numbers $70.00 minus about $30.00 bbl. with $40.00 for Dawn dish washing liquid.
This is great if if it doesn't have to go through any of the Federal Agencies and each take pinch of the top.

I mention this on another post but there are 35 Federal agencies involved in anything that goes on and the majority have to sign off on anything before it goes to BP for approval.

There is some good reading on this site about the drilling and execution of Relief Wells.
It can induce a very large pucker factor

http://www.jwco.com/technical-litterature/tech.htm

 

[zdas04]

That would be "net proceeds" (i.e., sales price minus expenses and royalties). I thought that's what you meant, no one is making profit on this except the chemical salesmen (maybe that would be a good place to put some money?).

David