As shown by the Macondo blowout,an uncontrolled deepwater well control event can result in loss of life, damage to the environment,and significant damage to company and industry reputation.Consistent adherence to safety regulations is a recurring issue in deepwater well construction.The two federal entities responsible for offshore U.S.safety regulation are the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement(BSEE)and the U.S.Coast Guard(USCG).The regulatory authority of these two bodies spans well planning,drilling,completions,emergency evacuation,environmental response, etc.The wide range of rules these agencies are responsible for cannot be comprehensively verified with the current infrequency of on-site inspections.Offshore regulation and operational safety could be greatly improved through continuous remote real-time data monitoring. Many government agencies have adopted monitoring regimes dependent on real-time data for im-proved oversight(e.g.NASA Mission Control,USGS Earthquake Early Warning System,USCG Vessel Traffic Services,etc.).Appropriately,real-time data monitoring was either re-developed or introduced in the wake of catastrophic events within those sectors(e.g.Challenger,tsunamis,Exxon Valdez,etc.).Over recent decades,oil and gas operators have developed Real-Time Operations Centers(RTOCs)for continuous,pro-active operations oversight and remote interaction with on-site personnel.Commonly seen as collaborative hubs,RTOCs provide a central conduit for shared knowledge,experience,and improved decision-making,thus optimizing performance,reducing operational risk,and improving safety. In particular,RTOC’s have been useful in identifying and mitigating potential well construction incidents that could have resulted in significant non-productive time and trouble cost.
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