Summary Reader Response Draft 1

The review titled "Utilization of Robotics in the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry Part II." authored by Shukla and Karki (2015), emphasizes the necessity of deploying sophisticated systems for the safe and efficient extraction of oil, given the increasing demand for energy and oil resources. Due to technological advances, the record for oil production increased by an estimated 0.1 Million barrels daily compared to November 2019 (Kemp, 2023), delivering clear evidence of increased production efficiency. One safety concern regarding rapid oil extraction is a blowout, an uncontrollable discharge of oil from a well, posing the risk of system failure or explosion. The extracting system consisting of the pump, pipe rams, and blowout preventer (BOP) underwent improvements to accommodate for extraction of this caliber. The function of the BOP is to maintain and lock the pressure in, including sheer rams and choking systems emergencies that the old system lacks. The (BOP) regulates pressure concurrent with the sheer ram severing the pipeline to shut the well while the choking system slowly controls the oil flow rate to restrain pressure (Shafiee et al., 2020). Technological advancement and the countless unfortunate incidents contribute to increased efficiency and safety in offshore oil rigs.

China has announced a new strategy to increase its domestic crude oil production by setting up five specialized Research and Development Centers that will focus on Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). This move is aimed at reducing the country's reliance on imported oil while enhancing efficiency, safety, and environmental sustainability. Zheng et al. (2022) have outlined the plan.

An overview of BOP systems and procedures in offshore exploration wells with statistics indicating 1 in 125 exploration wells experiences a blowout. Of these blowouts, 25% are "shallow gas" incidents before BOP installation, 10% result from cement or casing issues during kick control, and the remaining 65% occur through the BOP via the drill string or annulus (Rausand & Engen, 1983). The BOP system prevents hydrocarbons from entering the well during drilling The National Academies Press (n.d). For offshore drilling, the BOP system seals the wellbore, closes the annular area around the drill pipe, or cuts and seals the well by shearing the drill pipe. A riser pipe is attached to the top of the BOP The National Academies Press (n.d) to allow extracted fluids to circulate between the borehole and the rig in deep waters. A "remotely detachable connection" to the wellhead supports the base of the BOP, allowing for its release after the completion of the well's operations.

The BOP system components and emergency disconnect procedures in offshore exploration wells comprise a lower assembly "BOP stack" that rests on the wellhead connector and an upper assembly called "lower marine riser package (LMRP)" located in the detachable remote connection on top of the BOP stack with similar dimensions. The LMRP had two annular preventers, and the BOP stack included a blind shear ram (BSR) and three variable bore rams (VBRs), along with a casing shear ram (CSR) designed for shearing drill pipe and casing without sealing the well. Various control systems were part of the BOP system. In an emergency disconnect, the LMRP was to separate from the BOP stack, allowing the rig, riser, and LMRP to move away from the well. The BSR in the BOP stack was responsible for sealing the well during this process The National Academies Press (n.d).

One drawback of the BOP system is that despite implementing all necessary safety features, unforeseen circumstances may still occur for unexplainable reasons. The Deepwater Horizon rig incident is a tragic event that resulted in the loss of 11 lives, 17 injuries, and 87 days of oil spilling into Gulf waters. According to the article "Deepwater Horizon Blowout Preventer failed due to unrecognized pipe buckling" (2014). The blind shear ram's malfunction hindered its proper function. After investigations, due to delayed reaction from the crew, instead of cleanly cutting and sealing the well's drill pipe, the shear ram punctured the buckled, off-center pipe, leading to a substantial increase in the release of oil and gas towards the surface, resulted in the incident according to "Deepwater Horizon Blowout Preventer failed due to unrecognized pipe buckling" (2014).

In conclusion, The BOP system is crucial in improving safety and efficiency during oil extraction. Its effectiveness ultimately relies on human operation to skillfully execute and prevent blowouts.

Reference:

Rausand, M., & Engen, G. (1983, May 2). Reliability of Subsea Bop Systems. OnePetro. https://onepetro.org/OTCONF/proceedings-abstract/83OTC/All-83OTC/49790

“Macondo well deepwater horizon blowout: Lessons for improving offshore drilling safety” at nap.edu. 3 Blowout Preventer System | Macondo Well Deepwater Horizon Blowout: Lessons for Improving Offshore Drilling Safety | The National Academies Press. (n.d.). https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/13273/chapter/6

US oil output hits record as producers Boost Drilling Efficiency. Available at: https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/us-oil-output-hits-record-producers-boost-drilling-efficiency-kemp-2023-11-01/ 

Shukla, A., & Karki, H. (2016, January 1). Application of robotics in offshore oil and gas industry— A review Part II. Robotics and Autonomous Systems. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.robot.2015.09.013

Deepwater Horizon Blowout Preventer failed due to unrecognized pipe buckling, report says. WorkBoat. (2021, January 6). https://www.workboat.com/offshore/deepwater-horizon-blowout-preventer-failed-due-to-unrecognized-pipe-buckling-report-says

Zheng, X., Shi, J., Cao, G., Yang, N., Cui, M., Jia, D., & Liu, H. (2022, June 1). Progress and prospects of oil and gas production engineering technology in China. Petroleum Exploration and Development. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1876-3804(22)60054-5