MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

Lake JacksonDistrict

Lake Charles

District

Lafayette District

Houma

District

New Orleans

District

District OfficesGulf of Mexico OCS Region

MMS District Boundaries

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

• Process application packages• Stay abreast of technological advances• Stay abreast of Regulations & Policies• Assist in Panel Reviews and Accident

Investigations• Identify safety issues (e.g., Safety Alerts)• Assist in determination of SAFE Award

candidates.• Participate in “comment” processes—e.g.,

Regulations and Policies.

District Engineering Functions

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

2009 Summary of GOM Region District Engineering Reviews

Type No.

APDs 627

APMs 6249

WARS 23768

EORS 3137

Modifications 1409

Other/temp 792

Totals 33248

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

• Process application packages• Stay abreast of technological advances• Stay abreast of Regulations & Policies• Assist in Panel Reviews and Accident

Investigations• Identify safety issues (e.g., Safety Alerts)• Assist in determination of SAFE Award

candidates.• Participate in “comment” processes—e.g.,

Regulations and Policies.

District Engineering Functions

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

• Process application packages• Stay abreast of technological advances• Stay abreast of Regulations & Policies• Assist in Panel Reviews and Accident

Investigations• Identify safety issues (e.g., Safety Alerts)• Assist in determination of SAFE Award

candidates.• Participate in “comment” processes—e.g.,

Regulations and Policies.

District Engineering Functions

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

• Process application packages• Stay abreast of technological advances• Stay abreast of Regulations & Policies• Assist in Panel Reviews and Accident

Investigations• Identify safety issues (e.g., Safety Alerts)• Assist in determination of SAFE Award

candidates.• Participate in “comment” processes—e.g.,

Regulations and Policies.

District Engineering Functions

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

• Process application packages• Stay abreast of technological advances• Process application packages• Assist in Panel Reviews and Accident

Investigations• Identify safety issues (e.g., Safety Alerts)• Assist in determination of SAFE Award

candidates.• Participate in “comment” processes—e.g.,

Regulations and Policies.

District Engineering Functions

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

• Process application packages• Stay abreast of technological advances• Process application packages• Assist in Panel Reviews and Accident

Investigations• Identify safety issues (e.g., Safety Alerts)• Assist in determination of SAFE Award

candidates.• Participate in “comment” processes—e.g.,

Regulations and Policies.

District Engineering Functions

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

• Process application packages• Stay abreast of technological advances• Process application packages• Assist in Panel Reviews and Accident

Investigations• Identify safety issues (e.g., Safety Alerts)• Assist in determination of SAFE Award

candidates.• Participate in “comment” processes—e.g.,

Regulations and Policies.

District Engineering Functions

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

District Engineering Functions (cont’)

• Conduct meetings with operators (APR, Operations Review, general and other meetings to discuss requirements of Regulations, etc. or specific issues pertaining to individual applications.)

• Monitor operational concerns (storm damage, sustained casing pressure, etc.)

Mentor entry-level engineers and engineering interns.

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

District Engineering Functions (cont’)

• Conduct meetings with operators (APR, Operations Review, general and other meetings to discuss requirements of Regulations, etc. or specific issues pertaining to individual applications.)

• Monitor operational concerns (storm damage, sustained casing pressure, etc.)

Mentor entry-level engineers and engineering interns.

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

• 760 total production units in the Lafayette District

• 306 facilities (40%) operated by 43 companies were adversely impacted (included 23 toppled facilities & 170 toppled wells.)

Eugene Island Area platform after Hurricane Ike

Hurricane Ike Storm Recovery Database

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

District Engineering Functions (cont’)

• Conduct meetings with operators (APR, Operations Review, general and other meetings to discuss requirements of Regulations, etc. or specific issues pertaining to individual applications.)

• Monitor operational concerns (storm damage, sustained casing pressure, etc.)

• Mentor entry-level engineers and engineering interns.

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

• Mike Hebert, Production Engineer– API 14C, flow diagrams– Pre-production walkthrough

Explaining the flow diagram for McMoRan’s EI 182-A platform.

Learning about the header system on the platform.

Mentor Interns

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

District Engineering Functions (cont’)

• Become cross-trained in all engineering functions• Man “after hours” phone 24/7• Monitor offshore inspection performance by

operators• Work with inspectors by visiting offshore

locations

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

District Engineering Functions (cont’)

• Become cross-trained in all engineering functions• Man “after hours” phone 24/7• Monitor offshore inspection performance by

operators• Work with inspectors by visiting offshore

locations

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

District Engineering Functions (cont’)

• Become cross-trained in all engineering functions• Man “after hours” phone 24/7• Monitor offshore inspection performance by

operators• Work with inspectors by visiting offshore

locations

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

District Engineering Functions (cont’)

• Become cross-trained in all engineering functions• Man “after hours” phone 24/7• Monitor offshore inspection performance by

operators• Work with inspectors by visiting offshore

locations

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

• Paperwork• Walkthrough• Testing• INC’s • Flyover

Testing pilots at Pioneer’s EI 208 K satellite.

Offshore Inspections

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

District Engineering Functions (cont’)

• Become cross-trained in all engineering functions• Man “after hours” phone 24/7• Monitor offshore inspection performance by

operators• Work with inspectors by visiting offshore

locations• Perform ad hoc assignments by District Manager.

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

• Industry meetings

• Storm recovery meetings

• Monthly safety meetings

• Engineering Team Meeting

Meetings

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

• Drilling Engineers’ Team (team sponsor: John McCarroll, Lake Jackson District Manager)

• Production Engineers’ Team (team sponsor: Bryan Domangue, Houma District Manager)

• Workover Engineers’ team (team sponsor: Elliott Smith, Lafayette District Manager.

Engineering Teams

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

• Meet 3 to 4 times each year to address various team issues.

• Formulate policies to promote consistency in enforcement of existing Regulations.

• Identify cases where new and improved Regulations or clarification of Regulations are needed.

Engineering Team Objectives

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

2-barrier policy

Installation of capillary tubing inside of production tubing strings to operate WRSCSSV’s or chemical injections

Zonal isolation

Cutting casings 15 ft. BML in Reefs-to-Reefs applications

Use of epoxy resins in place of conventional cementing for conducting abandonment operations, etc.

Developing Policies

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

Reverse circulation in coiled tubing operationsIssues related to use of explosives during decommissioning activitiesInspection requirements for single bore risers used during APM operations (with no subsea BOP equipment) Changing well status in e-well Example: POW to GLOTA SubcodesCoordinate idle iron issuesWork with TAOS concerning draft NTL’s on technical issues

Developing Policies (cont’)

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for AmericaMMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America

Q&A?Contact information

Elliott S. Smith337-289-5104

Elliott.smith@mms.gov

MMS District Engineering Functions