Offshore staff
HOUSTON -- BJ Services is launching the Blue Dolphin, a high-performance stimulation vessel for oil and gas wells in the Lower Tertiary and other Gulf of Mexico formations. The vessel is custom-designed to provide 20,000 psi (138 MPa) working pressure via multiple Coflexip reeled flexible umbilical lines. Together with accommodations for up to 45 crew members, the vessel can perform large-volume, high-pressure stimulation operations for multi-zone or multi-well operations.
The vessel features a DP-2 dynamic positioning system and will receive well stimulation/offshore support vessel class notation, certified by the American Bureau of Shipping. It comes equipped with eight skid-mounted 3,000 brake horsepower Gorilla fracturing units and storage capacity for 2.75 million pounds of proppant. When necessary, it can provide up to 23,000 hydraulic horsepower and 80 bbl/min (12.7 cu m/min) blending rates to meet high-rate fracturing and stimulation requirements of ultra deepwater projects. At more than 300 ft (91 m) in length, the multipurpose vessel includes additional storage for up to 11,800 bbl (1875 cu m) of fluids or completion brines, 12,600 gal (47.7 cu m) of raw acid, and 6,300 gal (23.8 cu m) of solvent. Maximum on-the-fly acid blending capacity is 50 bbl/min (7.9 cu m/min).
According to BJ Service, the vessel is designed to meet a variety of sophisticated frac-pack, gravel-pack, proppant fracturing, and acidizing conditions.
For job control, the vessel features a touch-screen control room with fully automated ratio controls for the addition of proppant and additives. Stimulation processing tanks are continuously monitored with treatment level sensors featuring indication alarms. Wireless transmission of wellhead parameters permits remote monitoring and reporting of job conditions via satellite and backup systems. Additional control room electronics enable remote critical valve processing actuation, full-flow pressure relief valve actuation, and redundant overpressure shutdown capabilities. The vessel is also equipped with fire and gas detection systems on various levels.
Blue Dolphin will begin sea trials this fall and will formally join the global BJ Services fleet this winter. The fleet includes multiple stimulation vessels in the Gulf of Mexico, Latin America, and the Middle East.
10/05/2009
