Offshore staff
NORWICH, UK – Aquaterra Energy has installed what it claims is a ‘world first’ installation of a 10,000-psi (689-bar), 20-in. (51-cm) I.D. full bore drilling riser for Apache North Sea.
The high pressure riser system was designed for Apache to drill three subsea wells on the Bacchus field in the UK central North Sea from the jackup Rowan Gorilla VII.
Aquaterra Energy, which had previously developed a 5,000-psi (344-bar) riser system, used Merlin Connectors provided by Oil States Industries (UK) Ltd. to produce the higher capacity, 10,000-psi system.
The company claims that Merlin connectors have never before been used at that size or pressure for this type of application. To withstand the increased pressure and anticipated loads, the joints were fully forged with a wall thickness of 2 ½-in., and the overall dimensions of the Merlin connector were increased.
According to Aquaterra, the connector significantly increases running speed and improves efficiency of operations compared to standard flanged alternatives.
01/04/2012
