Schlumberger Oilfield Services has set three surface-controlled subsurface safety valves (Scssv) below 10,000 ft in Mississippi Canyon block 522 in the Gulf of Mexico. The Schlumberger TRC-DH valves have been set at record depths in three wells in the Fourier field, one of five Na Kika development fields.
In the Shell/BP Na Kika project, Fourier field wells F-2, F-3, and F-4 have TRC-DH safety valves set at 10,057.42 ft, 10,046.95 ft, and 10,060.40 ft, respectively.
Schlumberger also set the previous depth records at 9,882 ft at Camden Hills and 8,394 ft at Shell's Mensa subsea development.
The Fourier wells are in water depths of 7,000 ft. Fourier field well F-3 was the first to have a Scssv installed deeper than 10,000 ft, followed closely by two more installations exceeding this depth.
"Application of subsea technology on the Na Kika development wells has continually pushed the limits of drilling and completion methods," said Craig Stair, Shell project engineer for Na Kika completions. "Operation of the valves during installation proved trouble free."
The Na Kika development, owned by Shell and BP, is 140 mi southeast of New Orleans, where 10 subsea wells from five dispersed satellite fields are being connected to a centrally located, permanently moored floating development and production system for recovery of more than 300 MMboe.
"With two separate and complete operating piston systems connected by individual control lines, TRC-DH valves have complete operating redundancy for extended valve life – critical for deep applications where intervention costs can be prohibitive," said Gil Hilsman, core completions business development manager, Schlumberger Oilfield Services. "The valve is now found in 75% of all wells in 1,000 ft of water or more and was also used in the first deepset, ultrahigh-pressure (15,000-psi) subsea installation."
03/27/03