Mars B Development - Well Challenges Solutions - An Evolution of Traditional Well, Rig and Facility Design

摘要

The Mars-B project is Shell’s sixth GOM TLP development and demonstrates Shell’s commitment toGOM. The Mars-B project is aiming to unlock resources over the next 50 years through the deploymentof a new 24 slot TLP structure (Olympus TLP) and additional subsea infrastructure for the WestBoreas/South Deimos fields. The Olympus DVA rig is a novel platform drilling rig designed specificallyto meet the execution requirements of complex Olympus DVA well designs. The well design andassociated equipment must accommodate the 50 year design life, the longest design life of a TLP inShell’s history.This is the first development to incorporate post-Katrina environmental design loads and newregulatory design requirements. Project challenges include numerous technical challenges pertaining towell designs for 24 DVA wells targeting over 50 horizons spanning 10, 500 ft TVD to approximately 25,000 ft TVD encompassing both highly depleted brown field and deeper virgin pressure formations.The Olympus DVA well trajectories range from near vertical to high angle extended reach both throughsediments and through salt penetrations. Rig and surface facilities must be designed to address multiplechallenges present to ensure well and facility integrity, reservoir isolation and desired well constructionobjectives are met. This requires successful development and deployment of novel technologies and worldclass systems. The design requirements have resulted in an evolution of traditional well designs which inturn drives novel rig and surface facilities requirements.A high level overview of the design challenges and the resulting surface equipment requirements willbe discussed. This includes rig equipment requirements to meet the specified execution directives, thedevelopment of an innovative drilling riser concept, added systems optimization to increase safety andoverall execution efficiency.