Magma Global has delivered the world’s first high-pressure composite riser pipe to HWCG’s storage location on the U.S. Gulf Coast, completing its rapidly deployable Offset Flexible Riser (OFR) system.
HWCG, to enhance its rapid deployment emergency well containment system, commissioned Magma Global to qualify and manufacture a high pressure, high temperature m-pipe to be used as a flexible riser connection. The lightweight, flexible m-pipe section will provide additional flow and capture emergency response options for HWCG’s members in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.
The m-pipe is designed for rapid installation and is suitable for responses where vertical access is restricted and an offset is required such as water depths where the presence of combustible and volatile compounds affect personnel safety or where access under a floating production facility is needed. The system may also be used in deeper waters where more flexibility is desired in managing the marine systems during a response.
The 800 ft long section of m-pipe will provide a flexible riser connection between the capping stack placed on the incident well and a rigid riser suspended from a MODU. The m-pipe will form a horizontally oriented “S” shape between the capping stack and the rigid pipe riser, thus decoupling motion and decreasing surface station-keeping requirements for the temporary production facility. Once in operation, hydrocarbons released from the well flow through the complete riser flow path and are processed on board the temporary production facility to be collected in shuttle tankers for transportation.
Martin Jones, CEO at Magma Global, said, “This is a bittersweet success for Magma. We are proud to supply the first composite flexible riser for high pressure, high temperature hydrocarbons, for use in the Gulf of Mexico, yet we hope it will never have to be used. Nevertheless, m-pipe doesn’t corrode or degrade over time and hence will always be ready to enable HWCG to install at speed and with confidence.”
Bolstering HWCG’s well containment capabilities
HWCG’s response provides for the installation of a capping stack within 7-14 days and the ability to commence contingent flow and capture operations within 18 days, assuming no weather or other uncontrollable delays. Once installed the m-pipe is qualified to operate for at least six months, which is enough time to drill a relief well to provide final well kill and containment.
Mitch Guinn, Technical Director for HWCG, commented, “HWCG was one of the first organisations to accept the responsibility for providing equipment and personnel to respond rapidly and safely to a deepwater well incident. The addition of a flexible riser component to our suite of response equipment further enhances our ability to respond even more efficiently by allowing more flexibility in selecting a temporary production facility and enabling the selected facility to increase its operating window regarding weather conditions. The addition of Magma’s composite m-pipes is a huge benefit for our Members and is seen as one of their critical response components. We hope this work will open the doors to future applications of this breakthrough technology.”
Andy Jefferies, Deep Sea Development Services, and OFR Project Manager for HWCG, added, “The initial concept, and subsequent evolution, of the Offset Flexible Riser builds on the industry’s use of riser technology to manage unique operating conditions and environments requiring incident well flowback as part of a well containment strategy. The engineering and design aspects of this breakthrough technology have been led by DSDS for HWCG. The application of the Magma m-pipe design represents a step change in that technology and brings a time effective solution to well containment for flow and capture operations for all scenarios, but is particularly well suited to shallow water, high-rate gas wells, and wells requiring an offset flow and capture operation.”
