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Home My WebLink About2004_Inspections_Final 2004 FIELD INSPECTION PROGRAM DIVERTER TESTS Commission Inspectors witnessed 16% of all diverter tests (11 of 69) performed during 2004. Diverter tests on 9 of 27 exploration wells drilled during the year were witnessed; 14 of these were in remote locations. Seven diverter tests were witnessed on the 14 remote exploratory wells. Scheduling conflicts, weather, and the remoteness of operations contributed to the inability to witness diverter tests on 3 remote exploratory operations; diverter requirements were waived for 4 of the wells. BLOWOUT PREVENTION EQUIPMENT Past performance has a strong influence on which rigs will be visited to witness blowout prevention equipment (“BOPE”) testing, particularly when scheduling conflicts arise. As a guide, AOGCC’s goal is to witness the initial BOPE test on all exploratory wells and rig startups (after the rig has been shut down for an extended time period), and at least one test on each operating rig every two months. Based on 175 rig-months for calendar year 2004, the Commission’s minimum goal was to witness 90 BOPE tests. There were 500 BOPE tests performed during 2004; the PI Team witnessed 108 BOPE tests (21.6% of the total, which is 120% of our stated goal). Initial BOPE tests were witnessed on 16 of 27 exploration wells; 13 of 15 initial BOPE tests were witnessed on rigs that started operations after an extended shut down. AOGCC witness of initial BOPE tests on three of the remote exploratory wells in NPRA was waived since a BLM inspector was available to witness these tests. Witness of the initial BOPE test on the remaining wells was waived for logistical reasons and taking into account recent equipment performance during testing. RIG INSPECTIONS The PI Team conducted 123 rig inspections. SAFETY VALVE SYSTEMS The SVS on a well is required to be tested at a maximum interval of every 6 months or more frequently if the failure rate from the prior test exceeded 10%. AOGCC’s minimum goal is to witness 25% of the tests performed during a year. During 2004, the PI Team witnessed 2,147 of the 4,423 SVS tests, or about 49% of the tests performed. There were 9,515 components tested in the 4,423 system tests. The Commission identified 4 defeated safety valve systems during 2004 inspections; operators implemented corrective action on all defeated systems by year-end. WELL HOUSE INSPECTIONS The PI Team inspected 2,290 wellhead and well house systems on the North Slope and in Cook Inlet. MECHANICAL INTEGRITY TESTS There were 1,155 wells engaged in underground injection activities by year-end 2004. Included were 1,088 Class II enhanced recovery wells, 56 Class II disposal wells, seven Class I disposal wells, and four Class II gas storage injectors. Operators added 50 injection wells during 2004, including 43 new wells and seven wells converted to injection service. Ten injectors were abandoned and one was suspended in 2004. MITs were performed on 427 injection wells throughout the state. AOGCC inspectors witnessed: - 312 of the 465 MITs; - 3 of 11 MITs on the Class I non-hazardous disposal injection wells; - MITs on 28 of the 50 new/converted wells; The number of witnessed MITs on new/converted injectors is directly impacted by when the well begins injection. Twenty-two injectors were completed during 2004, but had not initiated injection as of the year-end. The Commission does not routinely witness an MIT until the well’s operating condition has stabilized. WELL BORE PLUGS Commission Inspectors witnessed abandonment activities on 27 wells during 2004; seven of these were new remote exploratory wells located throughout the state. Inspections of the remaining 20 wells included verification of deep plug placement or surface abandonment of old exploration and development wells in the NW Eileen area of Prudhoe Bay, Swanson River Unit, and Houston Gas field (coalbed methane development). LOCATION CLEARANCE Eight location clearance inspections were conducted during 2004, including 6 abandoned exploratory well locations. METERING Gas Meters: There were 26 gas measurement facilities in the State of Alaska by year-end 2004. The PI Team inspected 12 of the 25 active gas measurement facilities (16 of 28 meters) during 2004. Oil Meters: North Slope oil production represented 98% of Alaska’s total oil production in 2004. There were 94 oil meter provings witnessed by Commission Inspectors; 62 of those were at North Slope facilities. A Commission Inspector witnessed the annual recertification of Alyeska’s portable prover during 2004 at the Valdez Marine Facility. Members of the Inspection Team also witnessed subsequent re-certifications of the North Slope using the Alyeska portable prover. Statistics Drilling Rigs Diverters & BOPE Mech. Integrity Tests Well Abandonment Oil & Gas MetersNo. Of Non Well Non Non Oil Gas Non Year Inspectors Diverters BOP Rig Totals Compliance Tested House Compliance Tests Compliance Plugs Locations Meters Meters Compliance1980 4 0 122 0 126 139 1,724 N/A 187 0 0 N/A 56 171 29 01981 5 18 162 0 185 178 1,487 N/A 142 0 0 N/A 136 104 14 451982 5 9 208 0 222 180 2,810 N/A 371 0 0 N/A 119 109 20 321983 5 7 165 0 177 90 2,750 N/A 245 0 0 N/A 138 147 36 541984 5 19 194 0 218 92 2,818 N/A 233 0 0 N/A 104 129 35 741985 4(5)* 18 227 0 245 228 4,765 N/A 408 43 0 N/A 53 88 15 191986 4 13 117 0 134 127 4,539 N/A 428 216 2 N/A 70 104 22 141987 3(4)** 8 41 0 49 21 4,949 N/A 413 265 23 N/A 48 69 8 101988 3(4)*** 12 55 0 67 43 4,919 N/A 508 300 6 N/A 20 71 11 01989 3 13 53 0 69 55 5,208 N/A 511 132 8 N/A 23 71 13 141990 3 17 57 70 147 117 2,767 N/A 289 96 3 N/A 37 18 0 21991 3 17 70 105 195 295 734 N/A 116 132 8 N/A 26 68 7 11992 3(4)**** 19 57 33 109 53 1,252 N/A 183 162 2 36 24 116 24 11993 5 49 152 74 280 196 1,294 796 459 218 0 72 25 163 32 41994 5 25 123 65 218 130 1,465 3274 445 190 4 52 74 197 35 11995535 121 64 220 154 1,234 1,065 253 216 6 37 33 167 38 51996 4(5)***** 31 97 56 184 172 1,060 1,001 183 197 4 44 42 156 46 21997 4****** 24 114 97 235 125 1121 1369 138 148 22 40 19 139 12 31998 4 24 155 97 276 120 1250 1404 144 190 12 16 7 143 22 221999 4****** 11 89 73 173 72 1700 2841 230 211 7 7 7 199 18 432000 5******* 25 115 128 268 175 1663 1766 202 220 7 19 5 117 7 312001 5 30 148 186 364 270 1892 1837 247 251 18 23 8 134 28 432002 5 18 112 147 277 198 1993 1935 274 247 16 34 17 120 21 182003 5 15 103 131 249 164 2072 2044 226 239 16 14 20 131 19 172004 5 11 108 123 242 148 2147 2082 232 312 17 29 8 94 12 21* PI Retired** PI Off Duty*** PI Transferred**** Due to injuries, we had only one inspector for two months***** Effectively 4 inspectors in-the-field due to resignation, reassignment, and leave for family illness.****** Five Inspectors 3 Months, Four Inspectors for 6 Months, 3 Inspectors for 3 Months.******* Five Inspectors for 8 Months, Four Inspectors for 4 Months.Safety Valve SystemsAOGCC FIELD INSPECTION SUMMARY 2004YEARLY WITNESSED TESTS AND INSPECTIONSTABLE I