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DNV GL and ExproSoft offer a risk-based approach to testing barrier valves

Oilfield Technology,


Reducing expenditure whilst continuing to improve safety and reduce risk is a key driver for the oil and gas industry, especially in today’s cost constrained environment. DNV GL and ExproSoft are joining forces to offer a risk-based approach to testing barrier valves in subsea completed wells, applicable worldwide. The objective is to reduce both downtime and risk related to the shut-in and restart of wells in addition to substantial cost savings.

Substantial year-on-year cost savings for operators

“In Norway, today’s current prescriptive approach to well testing can result in up to three days lost production per test, equivalent to US$10 million per asset. Changing today’s prescriptive test intervals and leak criteria to a risk and reliability-based approach, will achieve substantial year-on-year cost savings for operators in Norway and elsewhere,” said Kjell Eriksson, Regional Manager of DNV GL - Oil and Gas in Norway. He continued: “Our experts can use established methodologies from the process industry and safety systems to reduce the number of shut-ins and well downtime, thus lowering the need for expensive interventions and work-overs. All this can be attained whilst maintaining acceptable risk levels and meeting regulatory requirements.”

Combining equipment reliability services with risk management expertise

Currently, the NCS regime refers to NORSOK D-010 for well barrier testing and testing frequencies and leak criteria for well barrier valves are determined by API 14B/ISO 10417. DNV GL and Exprosoft will undertake a project to develop the risk-based approach which will identify failure modes and causes, failure rates, analyse the consequences, establish a risk picture and translate the results into a recommended test frequency. Further, a method to develop risk-based leak acceptance criteria may also be an outcome of this work. The results can be applied globally and will be available in 1Q16.

Reducing intervention costs

DNV GL and ExproSoft‘s strategic co-operation and partnership agreement brings together ExproSoft’s WellMaster, one of the world’s largest repository of reliability data for wells based on more than 40 000 well years of historical data, with DNV GL’s risk management expertise. “For an offshore platform with 25 wells producing 50 000 bpd, the average annual intervention cost is US$26 million,” said ExproSoft’s CEO, Odd Are Svensen. “We are looking forward to working closely with DNV GL to combine our equipment reliability services with DNV GL’s risk management expertise to reduce intervention cost.”

Leading oil and gas operators in the US, UK and Norway use and share reliability data throughout the well’s lifecycle globally, and experience increased uptime, reduced cost (CAPEX and OPEX), and improved understanding of risk and failures, through access to the WellMaster reliability management system from ExproSoft.

 

Adapted from press release by Cecilia Rehn

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/drilling-and-production/26062015/dnv-gl-and-exprosoft-join-forces-to-offer-a-risk-based-approach-to-testing-barrier-valves/

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