Trendsetter Vulcan Offshore (TVO), a developer of innovative offshore industry solutions, has deployed its proprietary Hercules tethered blowout preventer (TBOP) system to support the restart of a shut-in well in the Gulf of America (GoA)

“Our TBOP technology is the foundation of innovative solutions installed globally, and we are continually refining functionality to meet the operator’s precise needs” said TVO President Jim Maher. “We work directly with energy companies to understand performance requirements so we can quickly tailor site-specific solutions.”

For a recent installation in the northwestern sector of the GoA, TVO partnered with an operator that had previously used the Hercules TBOP system successfully on another project. The advanced system was developed to enable a deepwater floater equipped with a dynamic positioning (DP) system to operate safely in shallow-water environments.

The operator engaged TVO during the well planning phase, outlining the conditions at the well location and its intention to deploy a DP rig that had been operating under a long-term deepwater contract to carry out the workover of a shallower-water well. This approach removed the requirement for a separate moored rig at the site, avoiding additional costs.

TVO’s technical team completed the necessary BOP modifications for the well location, rapidly designing and customising the system while conducting in situ load testing, marking the first time this validation process had been completed on site. The installation was successfully executed, allowing the deepwater DP rig to safely perform the workover operation.

For more than a decade, TVO’s solutions have supported offshore operations by enhancing safety and addressing complex technical and operational challenges in demanding environments. The company’s technologies have been deployed across the Gulf of America, North Sea, Australasia and South America.