Abstract
The rig start-up process that was used for the semi submersible tender assist rig was successful in mitigating schedule and cost risks associated with readiness of the rig and the complex interface with other contractors located around the world. The Malaysian team successfully delivered the rig start up from 1 year cold stack mode change of ownership, turned around the rig into a fully functional one, on cost, schedule and incident free.
It was an extremely challenging timeline from contract award to securing rig modification, interface upgrades and equipment delivery to meet the operators’ "First Oil" date. Multiple stakeholders were engaged to identify & build up a credible rig start action plan to deliver the required upgrades, reactivation and repairs in a timely manner. A technical queries process was used to manage the information exchange, captured decision and way forward. The successful rig start-up required Integrating new team members from various parties onshore & offshore integration, and familiarised the team with operators’ ways of working on safety including managing parties with limited rig start-up experience. The process needed an intensive interface management with multiple organizations within country and outside.
The rig start-up was successfully completion on schedule, below planned budget and most importantly safely. The modification was aimed at allowing a coupled body action between the semi sub tender assisted rig and tension leg platform, allowing for drilling, completion, hook up and commissioning and production to be carried out simultaneously. Ultimately it allowed for a safe and efficient well delivery campaign and meeting the production targets from a new facility.
With the action plan in place, the operator and contractor successfully closed out on audit findings & action items (> 1700 audit actions) from various aspects of HSE Technical safety, Rig Startup Audits, Marine, Aviation, Lifting & Hoisting, Health, Dropped Objects Prevention Scheme (DROPS), 3rd party commissioning & project interfaces to sail away from shipyard on time. A structured systems integration test was carried out in shipyard to qualify and commissioning new and existing drilling rig systems. Well control systems were also confirmed functional and a blowout preventer shear test was carried out using the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and operator guidelines.
Once the rig was sailed to location and set up alongside the tension leg platform, the remainder of the systems integration test was completed on site. The result of this was a flawless startup and transition into drilling and completion operations with minimal downtime to the operator and rig contractor.
