Sustained Casing Pressure
Identification and Remediation
May 8, 2015
“To promote safety, protect the
environment and conserve resources
offshore through vigorous regulatory
oversight and enforcement.”
Overview
Monitoring
Casing Pressure Categories
Guidelines to Granting a Departure
Considerations for Well Type
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Monitoring
Fixed wells: Monthly, one data point
Subsea wells: Continuously, one data point per day
Hybrid wells: Continuously, one data point for each
riser/production casing
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Monitoring
Condition Testing Repeated
Casing diagnostic test must be performed
Pressure request denied Immediately
Well previously on gas lift Immediately on A annulus*
Pressure request invalid Within 30 days
Increase in 200 psi over previous Within 30 days
test
If A annulus has pressure Once per year*
exceeding 10% of MIYP
After any corrective action Within 30 days
Outer annuli have pressure Once every five years
exceeding 20% of MIYP
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* Exclude wells on gas lift
Casing Pressure Categories
“Self Approval” granted unless:
Fixed platform
Casing pressure above MAWOP
Does not bleed to through ½ needle valve in 24 hours,
assuming SCP is greater than 100 psig
All wells:
Demonstrated communication between annuli/tubing,
annuli/annuli, casing/riser, etc.
Subsea:
Above 100 psig + external hydrostatic pressure
Hybrid:
Above 100 psig
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Casing Pressure Categories
Departure Granted
ALL requests are granted on a well by well basis.
Presents no hazard to personnel, platform, formation,
or environment
Allows for continued production
Lasts from six months to three years
Check daily on manned platforms
Check weekly on unmanned
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Casing Pressure Categories
Departure Terminates If:
End of granted period
Intermediate/production casing pressure increases
more than 200 psi
Surface casing increases more than 200 psi
If worked over, side tracked, recompleted, or acidized
If a different casing or riser on same well requires a
casing pressure departure
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Casing Pressure Categories
Departure Denial, when?
Communication departure requests do not bleed to
zero, almost always
Determined, again, on a well by well basis
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Casing Pressure Categories
Departure Denial
Operator has 30 days from the date of denial to
respond and submit plan of action.
Operator has 90 days from the date of denial to
commence work
Regardless of SCP status (Self Approved, Departure
Request) upon completion of work, operator must
submit new test.
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Special Considerations
Subsea wells:
Only production casing can be monitored
Monitored continuously via umbilical, etc.
Equipment failure will require departure
NOT required to bleed to zero.
BSEE takes into account thermal expansion
Must be demonstrated
Should limit bleed off due to unknown annular
pressures
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Special Considerations
Subsea Well Thermal Test
Bleed 15-20% of pressure off once the well is thermally
stable.
If well remains stable for 24 hours, pressure is
determined to be thermal.
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Special Considerations
Dry Tree Tie-back Systems
Zero Tolerance for SCP on inner or outer risers together
at same time
No “Self Approved” Category
Monitor Continuously
Thermal or imposed pressure can be on inner or outer
riser
Diagnostic must be conducted every six months or if
pressure increases more than 100 psi on inner/outer
riser
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BSEE Website: www.bsee.gov
@BSEEgov
BSEEgov
Bureau of Safety and
Environmental Enforcement
“To promote safety, protect the
environment and conserve resources
offshore through vigorous regulatory
oversight and enforcement.”
