PETE 411

Well Drilling

Lesson 6
Drilling Structures

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 Types of Drilling Structures

 Conventional Rotary Rig for drilling

on Land

 Alternate Drilling Structures

 Structures for deep Water or

Arctic Drilling

 Hydrogen Sulfide and RULE 36

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 Homework

Read:
Applied Drilling Engineering, Ch.5 (bits)

HW #3: Posted (due Sept. 18, 2002)

Find HW #3 and Lessons at:

http://pumpjack.tamu.edu/~juvkam-wold/

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Standard Derrick - Engines close to derrick - Mechanical Transmission 4
 700 hp ENGINE

COMPOUND
700 hp ENGINE

700 hp ENGINE

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 Drilling Structures:

 Conventional Land Rig

 Jack-up Rig
 Drillship
 Semisubmersible
 Jacket Platform
 Gravel Island
 Ice Island
 Guyed Tower
 Tension Leg Platform
 Spar Platform
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Pile-founded Cost increases
rapidly with depth
steel jacket
platform Bending moments

Natural Frequency

Mud Line

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~100 sec nat.frequency
(waves ~ 6-10 sec)

Pivot at bottom
(problem)

Buoyed tower concept of 1970 8

 1983
1,000 ft
of water

FAIRLEAD

200 TON CLUMP WEIGHTS

Principal features of the Lena guyed tower 9

High ice forces ~1,000 ft dia.
Weak soild
Shallow water

Arctic drilling structure - Ice Island 10

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12
Spar Platform in Transit

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 Spar
Platform
Installed

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 Rule 36 - TRC
Protection of the General Public from the
Effects of H2S
Applicable if H2S Concentration > 100 ppm

Point of Escape Radius of Exposure

 Operator must determine the H2S Concentration
 and the Potential Flow Rate

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 H2S

Determination of Radius of Exposure

The 100 ppm radius of exposure (in ft)

R100  [1.589 (Mole fract ion H 2 in gas mi xture) Q] 0.6258

R100= dist. from source where H2S conc. = 100 ppm

Q = source strength = open flow potential, SCFD
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 H2S

 Determination of Radius of Exposure

 The 500 ppm radius of exposure (in ft)

R 500  [0.4546 (Mole Fraction H 2S) Q] 0.6258

R500= dist. from source where H2S conc. = 500 ppm

Q = source strength = open flow potential, SCFD

 These are the Pasquill - Gifford Equations

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 Example

A well that is about to be drilled is estimated

to have an open flow potential of 5 million
SCFD. Based on other wells in the field it is
estimated that the H2S mole fraction in the
gas mixture will be 0.1.

Calculate the radius of exposure to H2S

concentrations of 500 ppm and 100 ppm.

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 Example

R500  [0.4546 (Mole Fract ion H 2S) Q] 0.6258

 [0.4546(0.1)(5 * 10 )]
6 0.6258

= 2,250 ft

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 Example

R100  [1.589 (Mole Fract ion H 2S)Q] 0.6258

 [1.589(0.1)5 * 10 ] 6 0.6258

= 4,924 ft
ppm
500
100
R500 R100 20
 To Determine Q

 Use open flow potential

 Where insufficient data exist

for calculating

R100 (100 ppm radius):

 Assume R100= 3,000 ft

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 Storage Tanks for Production

 If H2S conc. > 500 ppm

(i) Post warning sign within 50’ of

facility

(ii) Fencing is required in populated

area

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 Storage Tanks for Production

 In general, If R500 > 50 ft:

(i) Post warning signs on access roads

(ii) Post marker signs at public crossing

e.g. Poison Gas and Caution

in Black and Yellow colors

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 Need Contingency Plan if:
(i) R100 > 50 ft
• and includes public area other than public
road
100 ppm can cause throat irritation in < 1 hr
(ii) or R500 > 50 ft
• and includes public road
500 ppm can cause unconsciousness in < 2 min
death in ~1/2 hr
(iii) or R100 > 3,000 ft
{600 ppm can cause death after a few minutes}
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 The Contingency Plan

 Must provide for action of alerting and

protecting the public following accidental
release of a potentially hazardous volume
of H2S.

 Plan must include (names and) phone

numbers of people to be notified…e.g.
• Supervisor
• Hospital and Fire Dept./ Sheriff or Police
• District Railroad Commission etc.
• Local Residents 25
 Drilling Provision:

If R100  3,000 ft, we also need to:

(i) Maintain protective breathing equipment

at the well site
(ii) Install and maintain automatic H2S
detection and alarm equipment
(iii) Provide means for flaring the gas

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 Drilling Provision

(iv) Provide remote control of BOP and choke

equipment - at safe distance

(v) DST of H2S zones only during daylight

(vi) Notify railroad commission prior to
performing such DST
etc.

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 If R100  3,000 ft

• Provide training for personnel

• Submit certificate of compliance
(with all the rules)
30 days prior to commencement of
drilling or WO
Certificate must be approved before
commencing activities

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 If R100  3,000 ft

 Altered conditions may require submittal

of amended certificate

 Certificates are non-transferable

 Completion reports for new wells must

include the H2S conc. of the gas if in
excess of 100 ppm

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 What is Buoyancy?
Buoyancy is the net effect of all the pressure
forces acting on a submerged body.
The buoyancy force is equal to the weight
of fluid displaced.
For example, a one-cubic-ft rock submerged
in a tank containing water would
experience a buoyancy force equal to the
weight of 1 cu. ft of water, i.e., 62.4 lbf.

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The End

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