RMR™

RISERLESS MUD RECOVERY SYSTEM

a dual gradient system

US Patent 6,745,851

Presentation by: Roger Stave,

Technology Development Manager, AGR Subsea AS
Basis for RMRTM Technology
CTS technology (Cutting Transport
System) used since 1998 for over 250 well
operation.
The CTS is used to displace cuttings away
from the subsea production templates to
avoid building a cuttings pile and future
cleanup problems.

Used in up to 800m water depth.

The CTS System consists of :

ƒ Power Supply and Control Container
ƒ Deployment System
ƒ Subsea Suction Module and Mud
Pump
RMRTM Concept & Main Objectives

ƒ Enable Use of Engineered Fluid

Systems instead of “pump-and-dump”
ƒ Eliminate Casing Strings
Power Supply, Winch and
ƒ Improve Wellbore Stability - Mitigate umbilical
Shallow Hazards
ƒ Reduce Discharge to Sea
Return line
Suction module

Pump module
RMRTM Commercial Application

BP Azeri Field in the Caspian Sea

Previous Template Abandoned

ƒ Tophole being drilled using heavy Silicate Mud

ƒ RMRTM being used to recover mud from seabed to save
fluid costs
ƒ Two trial wells and nine production wells drilled to date
ƒ Two years Master Contract signed with BP / AIOC
RMRTM Azeri Field

Achievements:
ƒ RMRTM System is working fine
ƒ Achieving 100% mud recovery
ƒ No ingress of Seawater
ƒ Pumping mud weight up to 1.72 (14.35ppg)
ƒ Pumping Gumbo (swelling clay)
Technical Papers

SPE / IADC Drilling Conference Amsterdam, February 2005;

Paper no; SPE/IADC 92769
“Silicate-Based Fluid, Mud Recovery System Combine to Stabilize Surface
Formations on Azeri Wells”

Offshore Mediterranean Conference Ravenna, March 2005;

Paper no; OMC 038
”Riserless Mud Recovery System and High Performance Inhibitive Fluid
Successfully Stabilize West Azeri Surface Formation”
Caspian Sea Status

ƒ New Multi PSA Contract signed with BP / AIOC

ƒ Continued use on the Azeri Field (165m – Dada Gorgud)
ƒ Planned use on one well on Shah Deniz SDX-4 Well (392m - Istlagal)
ƒ Planned use on 16 wells on Deep Water Guneshli (275m – Dada Gorgud)
ƒ Planned use on one well on Inam INX-2 Well (350m - Istlagal)
ƒ Azeri Seabed / Template clearance from vessel

(3 RMR Units will be in operation in the Caspian Sea late this year)
Sakhalin Status

ƒ Pre-engineering Contract signed

ƒ Planned use on 2 wells in 2006 on Sakhalin V (License area
Kaigansky – Vasukansky)
ƒ Transocean Legend
Demo 2000 North Sea Field Trial

ƒ RMRTM Technology qualified for 450m water depth

ƒ Fully sealed system – reduced discharge to sea
ƒ Low Pressure Rotating Control Head
ƒ Suspended Pump Module
RMR Demo 2000 Test Conclusions

ƒ RMR does not limit the drilling operation

ƒ RMR allows continuous drilling with weighted and inhibited drilling fluid

ƒ System qualified for 450 m water depth

ƒ Make system less ROV dependent

Technical Paper

Offshore Technology Conference Houston (OTC), May 2005;

Paper no; OTC 17665
“Demonstration and Qualification of a Riserless Dual Gradient System”
OTC 2005 Spotlight Award
Market

ƒ Shallow hazard mitigation

ƒ Allows Operators to drill where they are currently unable to e.g. BP Caspian
versus other Oil Companies

ƒ Eliminate “pump and dump” – save fluid costs

ƒ Eliminate casing strings - reducing well costs

ƒ Environmental sensitive areas e.g. Sakhalin

 OTC Paper 17457
P. R. Hariharan
Mud Costs (Upper Hole Sections) Bob Judge
 OTC Paper 17457
P. R. Hariharan
Cost of SWF’s Bob Judge

• Historically, average $1.65 million/well

• Key data
– 124 wells experienced SWF problem
– 21 wells abandoned due to SWF !!
– 106 key wells analyzed
– $175 million spent for prevention & remediation
• [$59 for Prevention]
• [$116 for Remediation]

(Sources – MMS Database, Alberty 1999)

Way Forward – Deep Water

• Next step 1500 – 1700 meter

• Implement past experience from
Caspian Sea and Demo 2000
• Modified Deployment System
• Optimized Return Riser System
• 6-stage Pump Module
• 1.8 MW Power
Summary of the RMRTM Benefits

Main;

ƒ Reduced Fluid and Cement Volumes – saving cost

ƒ Enables use of engineered fluid systems

ƒ Predictable setting and cementing of casing at desired depth

ƒ Extended Casing Depths - Casing Point Elimination

CMPTM Concept

DGD without a rotating seal

• Mud pressure control using same

equipment as for RMRTM.
• ECD control
• No seal; easy to trip out of hole.
• Conventional drilling as a contingency
without recovery of equipment.

Patented
CMPTM Partners

Hydro Oil & Energy

Petrobras
AGR
NRC / Petromaks
Omnidyne Pump Concept
In-line Progressive Cavity Pump

Applications:
Subsea Boosting of Heavy Oils
Managed Pressure Drilling – Mud Return
RMRTM Technology Protection

US Patent 6,745,851

The RMRTM is protected by International Patents

RMRTM is Trademarked