Phase 2 of the development of a complete «all electric» BOP control system

Offentlig prosjektsammendrag

The Blow-Out Preventer stack is one of the key elements of subsea drilling. It is used to seal, control and monitor an oil well in case of a blowout and is the last line of defense against a catastrophe and for preventing environmental disasters. The historical development of the BOP has been characterized by continuous improvement of existing systems, instead of taking the step over to new solutions. With new requirements regarding safety regulations, stringent penalties for non-compliance, higher drilling cost, new demands considering efficiency, downtime, deep and ultra-deep operations, HP/HT reservoirs and zero emission, the weight of a BOP stack has doubled since the 1980's, while the electro-hydraulic BOP control system technology is in principle the same. This calls for alternative solutions, where ESD is in a strong position to exploit a huge business potential that has previously been overlooked by the subsea and drilling industry. The aim in this project is develop «state-of-the-art», 15 000 psi rated Electrical BOP stack for up to 4000 m water depth with new well barrier technology, replacing hydraulic equipment with new all electric actuators and control system to achieve higher reliability, improved efficiency and improved operational control. We will be able to halve the weight compared to conventional BOPs. The pre-engineering work will establish a complete design and engineering foundation for prototype development and qualification of core technologies, which will later be thoroughly tested during a full-scale BOP pilot project. We are also going to develop an upscaled 20.000 psi rated version. Because our solution is much lighter than its hydraulic counterpart, an existing rig can accommodate our upscaled «all electric» BOP system without major upgrades of tensioning system and BOP handling equipment.