Well integrity/control

Blowout Prevention and Relief-Well Planning for the Wheatstone Big-Bore Gas-Well Project

The engineering and operational planning to ensure that no uncontrolled hydrocarbon releases occur during the execution of subsea big-bore gas wells are described.

Wellhead stack with blowout preventer
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The offshore Wheatstone project in Western Australia uses subsea big-bore gas wells as the preferred method of producing the field. Each of the highly productive wells represents a source of gas that, if accidently allowed to flow unhindered, could present an uncommonly difficult well‑control challenge. This paper details the engineering and operational planning performed to ensure that no uncontrolled hydrocarbon releases occur during the execution of the subsea big-bore gas wells and that, if a blowout were to occur, the response to such an event would be sufficient and robust.

Introduction

The Wheatstone high-rate gas-well design, with its 9⅝-in. production conduit, represents the company’s initial attempt at implementing such a well.

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