1

Calculations riser space out

When we are drilling a new well we have to calculate how much riser we have to run
each time. The distance of the top of the 20-inch housing (datum) to the RKB (rotary
kelly bushing) is used for the calculations of how much riser you need (see Figure 1).
The rig Fatih has the following specifications:
• Distance RKB to datum 20-inch housing is 6,333 feet.
• Distance RKB to diverter flex joint riser crossover connection is 17 feet.
• The slip joint has a 66-foot stroke.
• The outer barrel is 75 feet long.
• The marine risers are 75 feet long.
• The complete BOP is 48 feet high.
• The LMRP is 24 feet high (from bottom LMRP to riser adapter).
• The LBOP stack is 24 feet high (from datum to top LBOP).
• The rig has the following riser pup joints: 40, 20, 10 and 5 feet.

Question 1: calculate the riser string we have to use here?

 2

Figure 1 Space-out sheet for running riser

Next we are going to run the BOP at the beginning of the well we need to know how
much weight we put on the tensioners and how much on the compensator CMC.
The rig Fatih has the following specifications:
• LBOP stack in water 348,000 lbs
• LMRP in water 156,600 lbs
Riser joints in air:
• Slick joints 75 ft 22,370 lbs
• Buoyancy joints 5,000 to 7,000 ft 37,562 lbs
• Buoyancy joints 4,000 ft 35,762 lbs
• Buoyancy joints 3,000 ft 34,814 lbs
• Buoyancy joints 2,000 ft 33,727 lbs
Assumption: the buoyancy risers lose 95% of their weight in water. The slick risers lose
13% of their weight in water.
Riser pups in air:
 3

• 40 ft pup 12,800 lbs

• 20 ft pup 8,400 lbs
• 10 ft pup 5,400 lbs
• 5 ft pup 4,200 lbs
Assumption: the riser pup will lose 13% of their weight in water.
• Slip joint outer barrel 45,000 lbs
• Slip joint inner barrel 10,690 lbs
• Tension ring assembly 25,000 lbs
• Riser running tool 3,550 lbs
The rig has 16 riser tensioners installed rated to 120 kips each.
Question 2: calculate weight of the riser string for landing the BOP and how we
should set each riser tensioner.
Notes:
We assume this rig is a semi-submersible rig and the slip joint's outer barrel is out of the
water.
We will put 50,000 lbs landing weight on the assembly. We need the landing weight to
prevent the BOP from starting to float before landing.
We will use 75,000 lbs in the CMC. We use 75,000 lbs for the compensator (CMC), as it
is much easier and faster to adjust the pressure of the CMC than that of the riser
tensioners.
Question 3: calculate pull on the riser tensioners after the ram is landed and
how to set each tensioner. Assume 75,000 lbs overpull.
Question 4: Next the rig starts drilling and is using 12.3-ppg mud. How much
should the riser tension be adjusted?
The wall thickness of the risers is 3⁄4 inch.
The OD of the riser joints is 22 inches.
The ID of the kill and choke lines is 3 inches.
The ID of the mud boost line is 4-1⁄4 inches.