Offshore staff

LONDON – Tullow Oil has signed up as an additional consulting partner to a Joint Industry Project (JIP) to develop a new and safer subsea wellhead, using Plexus’ patented POS-GRIP technology.

Other partners include Maersk, Shell, Wintershall and SafeKick.

The new wellhead, designated the HGSS, will address technical issues and requirements highlighted by regulators following the Macondo incident in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010.

The JIP partners will contribute to the design and engineering process with a view to becoming end-users once the wellhead has been fully built, tested and commercialized.

Plexus expects the project, launched in October, to take between 18-24 months to complete at a cost of $2.3-3.1 million. The company will own any intellectual property generated.

Features that will be incorporated into the HGSS include:

• 18-3/4” full bore system, rated to 15,000 psi (1,034 bar), 350°F (176°C)
• Upgradeable to 20,000 psi (1,379 bar), 450°F (232°C)
• 4 million-lb ‘instant’ casing hanger lockdown capacity
• Avoidance of problems associated with use of lock down rings
• Annulus monitoring and bleed-off capability to address sustained casing pressure situations, with diagnostic and remedial capability
• Ability to open and reseal the casing annulus to facilitate remedial cement job procedures
• Rigid metal annular seal technology qualified to match standards for premium casing couplings
• Meeting the requirements of API 17D/ISO 13628-4.

01/06/2012