07121- DW1402a

Primary Performer
FloaTEC, LLC, Houston, TX 77079

Additional Participants:
J. Ray McDermott Engineering, Houston, TX 77079-4526
Keppel Offshore & Marine, Singapore 629351
Vetco Gray, Inc., Houston, TX 77042
Seawell Americas, Inc., Houston, TX 77041
OTRC, College Station, TX 77845

Abstract
The RPSEA study for Phase 1 of an “Ultra-Deepwater Dry Tree System for Drilling and Production in the Gulf of Mexico” provides the opportunity to develop and evaluate competitive platform concepts that can facilitate the development of oil reserves in the U.S. Gulf waters.

FloaTEC, LLC, a 50:50 joint venture company created by J. Ray McDermott (JRM) and Keppel FELS (KFELS) to deliver deepwater floating production systems, will lead the study effort. FloaTEC intends to supplement their team by utilizing their parents’ expertise in the areas of constructability in design, fabrication and installation, and by engaging specialist companies: 2H Offshore, VetcoGray, and Seadrill Americas, Inc. in the areas of riser analysis, riser and tensioner hardware, and drilling rig layout and operations, respectively.

The Project Director for FloaTEC is Mr. Jing Kuang. He will be assisted by Bala Padmanabhan, C. K. Yang, H. S. Lee and Shirish Potnis (all FloaTEC), Pranab Sarkar and Darryl Payne (J Ray McDermott), Chau Nguyen (2H), C. R. Lin (VetcoGray) as his principal investigators/lead engineers in the project team.

The main objectives of the project are to assess alternative dry tree semisubmersible concept designs for two different payload cases in accordance with the agreed basis of design, and select one hull form option for model testing and further development in Phase 2 of the RPSEA program. The intent is to investigate the feasibility of developing these platform designs and to identify any technical limits to areas where further qualification or testing will be required in the industry.

The project is divided into distinct areas of scope. The initial task is to jointly develop the basis of design for the project, followed by a sizing exercise to be able to compare all dry tree platform and riser options selected for study. A comparative assessment of the results of this task will be presented and evaluated at a workshop. The outcome of the workshop will be the selection of two dry tree hulls and riser forms (one combination for each of the two payloads considered) for further evaluation and refinement.

FloaTEC’s in-house sizing tools enable the hull options to be developed on an equal basis, providing the necessary data to estimate costs to the screening level accuracy required for comparison. Similarly, the experience of the other members of project team will provide the necessary input to accurate payload development, riser and tensioner component sizing, project execution plans, and cost estimates.

The two options selected for further study will be developed to the extent necessary to ensure their feasibility in all areas, and provide sufficient detail to develop +/-30% cost estimates. A second workshop will be held to select one case to be model tested. Model testing will be performed at a reputable, experienced facility.

All results of these tasks will be assembled into a final report, and agreement will be reached on an appropriate method to transfer technology to industry. The major outcome from the project will be an assessment of the competitiveness of a dry tree semisubmersible to the limited production platform concepts currently available for field developments in deep waters (over 6,000 ft). Any technology requiring development will be identified, allowing an accurate timeline to be established for product readiness.

Principal Investigator: Jing G. Kuang, Ph.D.