Each capping stack is assembled at Trendsetter’s site in Houston and undergoes a thorough testing process, including robust pressure testing. The stacks are then disassembled and transported to their storage location before on-site reassembly.

This time-lapse video shows this reassembly taking place on location in Stavanger, February 2013.

TANANGER, NORWAY, March 15, 2013 – Oil Spill Response Ltd (OSRL) today unveiled cutting edge well capping equipment that can be deployed around the world in the event of a subsea well control incident. It is available to oil and gas companies across the industry, marking a major advancement for international oil spill response capability. Norway’s Minister for Petroleum and Energy, Ola Borten Moe, attended an inauguration event at OSRL’s Base in Stavanger to commemorate the opening of this new facility where the equipment is stored.

OSRL’s Subsea Well Intervention Service (SWIS) provides for swift subsea incident response around the world. The integrated subsea well intervention system includes four capping stacks to shut-in an uncontrolled subsea well and two hardware kits to clear debris and apply subsea dispersant at a wellhead, creating safer surface working conditions and enhancing bio-degradation. The SWIS equipment is suitable for the majority of known subsea wells. It can be deployed in water depths up to 3,000m and control flow pressures up to 15kpsi.

The equipment will be stored in four international locations – Norway, Brazil, South Africa and Singapore – and maintained ready for immediate mobilisation and onward transportation by sea and/or air in the event of an incident. The first equipment is now available for international use from OSRL’s Norway Base, and a further three devices will be delivered during Q2 and Q3 2013.

SWIS is the culmination of unprecedented industry collaboration. In 2011, nine international oil and gas companies formed the Subsea Well Response Project (SWRP), pooling resources to develop equipment that could enhance subsea well control capability. OSRL collaborated with them to construct this equipment for the benefit of the wider industry, and companies can now subscribe to SWIS to incorporate this equipment into their own incident response plans.

Robert Limb, Chief Executive of Oil Spill Response Ltd, said: “SWIS represents a transformational addition to OSRL’s portfolio of services, helping our members prepare for, and handle, potential subsea well control incidents on a global scale. Members benefit from world-class capping capability, supported by OSRL’s industry-leading response and preparedness expertise.

“This pivotal development is wholly consistent with our mission to enable the most efficient, safe and effective response to oil spills wherever they may occur – and we are committed to extending this service to ensure a fully integrated response to all our members. Today’s development is the first step in a global programme that will ensure a response capability that has never been provided before.”

Keith Lewis, Project Manager, Subsea Well Response Project, said: “Incident prevention is the oil and gas industry’s number one priority, but we can never be complacent. The delivery today of world-class intervention equipment is a major milestone for technical capping capabilities, but also for industry collaboration.

“Working together and sharing resources across the industry has strengthened our knowledge and the technology on offer. This co-operation will continue to be the most effective path in our ongoing commitment to enhance drilling safety.”

Click here to view a film about the intervention system: Oil Spill Response Ltd – The Cap Story

The animation highlights the process undertaken by an ROV as it closes the lower ram and stops the flow of oil from the top of the capping stack. This is just one part of the longer process of shutting in a well. During the animation we can see the overall scene, as well as simulations of the camera views that would be available to an ROV operator.

NB The animation is for illustrative purposes only. It is based on one example scenario and does not reflect all operational requirements. This is a simplified snapshot of a complex operation involving a range of equipment, vessels and procedures. Not all equipment is included as part of the intervention system. All timings relate to the figure displayed in the top left hand corner of the animation.

0:00:28 As the ROV descends to the seabed, we see an overview of the incident site. There is a flowing wellhead with a blow out preventer (BOP). A capping stack has been installed, and oil is flowing through the core and all four diverter spools. Two subsea accumulator modules (SAM) and hydraulic flying leads (HFL) are also installed.

0:01:04 The ROV grabs the steel flying lead (SFL) from the frame and installs it in the enhanced subsea accumulator (SAM), ensuring all valves are closed.

The animation shows a split screen image: we can see the bird’s eye view of the field layout, as well as simulated views that would be seen by an ROV pilot in the colour and black and white cameras.

0:04:40 The ROV grabs the other half of the SFL and installs it on the BOP ram panel on the capping stack. The ROV then returns to the SAM and operates the valves to charge the HFL.

0:13:40 Now, the ROV turns the lower isolation valve on the BOP ram panel to close the lower ram.

At the same time, we see the flow of oil from the top of the capping stack begin to diminish… and finally stop.

0:16:00 Ram #1 is now closed.

0:18:30 The ROV flies back to the SAM to prepare to repeat the procedure on the upper BOP panel. At this point, the film ends but the dive plan would continue until the well is fully shut-in.

SWRP is collaborating with Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) to construct the intervention system and make it available to companies across the industry. Earlier this year, OSRL contracted Trendsetter Engineering to construct four capping stack toolboxes capable of handling a variety of scenarios. OSRL also contracted Oceaneering to develop two Subsea Dispersant Hardware Toolboxes including debris clearing equipment; blowout preventer (BOP) emergency intervention equipment; and equipment for subsea application of dispersant at a wellhead.

These new photos give a first look at the capping and dispersant equipment being constructed. The first capping stack and dispersant toolboxes should be ready for use by the end of the year.

Capping Stack Equipment

Dispersant Toolbox Equipment

SWRP is collaborating with OSRL to make a new intervention system available to the industry, including capping and subsea dispersant application equipment. Based on one example scenario, the new video depicts how the intervention system can be deployed to shut in a well.

This animation is for illustrative purposes only and does not reflect all operational requirements. This is a simplified snapshot of a very complex operation involving a range of equipment (some of which will be stored and maintained by OSRL), vessels and procedures.

SWRP was shortlisted from 56 nominees to be named as Runner Up in the Awards. The Project was praised by the judges for collaborating across the industry to develop international subsea well intervention equipment.

The ONS Innovation Awards have been presented since 1982, in recognition of cutting-edge solutions that enhance the oil and gas industry.  The Awards were announced as part of ONS 2012 in Stavanger, Norway, which this year focused on Confronting Energy Paradoxes.  Aker Solutions and Statoil were named as overall winners for their Åsgard Subsea Compression Template.

Keith Lewis, Project Manager at SWRP, presented at the conference, providing an update on SWRP’s latest activities and the availability of new subsea well intervention equipment via Oil Spill Response Ltd. Numerous delegates also visited the Project Team at the SWRP exhibition booth to find out more about the equipment and view an animation explaining how it can be deployed:

Finally, SWRP was used as an example to how industry could advance HSE related technologies at ONS Safety Lunch jointly organized by ONS and the Norwegian Petroleum Safety Agency.

You can view SWRP’s ONS presentation and read SWRP’s ONS paper, ‘Learning, Innovating Collaborating: Delivering the next generation of well intervention capabilities’.

The oil and gas industry is set to benefit from internationally-deployable well capping equipment, following collaboration between Oil Spill Response Ltd (OSRL) and the Subsea Well Response Project (SWRP).

Working closely with SWRP, OSRL is making an integrated intervention system available to the industry to enhance international capabilities to respond to a subsea well control incident. SWRP planned the intervention system, which includes newly-designed subsea capping and dispersant application equipment, and will provide project management support to OSRL during the construction phase.  OSRL will procure, own and maintain the equipment and make it available to subscribers.

OSRL has contracted Trendsetter Engineering to manufacture four capping stack toolboxes capable of handling a variety of scenarios. OSRL has also contracted Oceaneering AS to develop two hardware kits for the subsea application of dispersant at the wellhead.

The first equipment is due to be completed by the end of 2012 and will be ready for deployment by sea and/or air in the event of a subsea well-control incident.  During 2013, the equipment will be moved to four strategic storage locations – in Northern Europe, South America, Africa and Asia-Pacific – to further enhance international deployment and response readiness.

“Increasing the availability of capping and subsea dispersant equipment is an important step forward for improving incident response capabilities across the industry and around the world,” said Keith Lewis, project manager at SWRP. “SWRP sought input from industry experts and regulators of the offshore oil and gas industry whilst planning the intervention system.  While we hope that this equipment will never be needed, it is critical for the industry to be prepared.”

Archie Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Oil Spill Response Ltd, said, “Our collaboration with SWRP further enhances the expertise and specialised equipment we can offer to the industry, and we look forward to contact from interested parties. In the event of an oil spill, subscribers to this new service will have immediate access to a wide range of industry-leading resources. We have, and are committed to continuing to develop, strategic relationships that can help to achieve a highly effective global response capability.”