The activities and guidelines of the Well Life Cycle Practices Forum

摘要

The Well Life Cycle Practices Forum (WLCPF) was formed following the UK response to the Macondo tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010. In response to Macondo, Oil & Gas UK brought together representatives of operators, drilling contractors, regulators and trade unions to form the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Advisory Group (OSPRAG). In addition to developing and building an emergency capping device, assessing and improving oil spill response capability, and reviewing indemnity and insurance liabilities, OSPRAG also carried out a review of the UK industry's approach to various aspects of well control. OSPRAG published a series of recommendations in October 2010 which led to the creation of the WLCPF under Oil & Gas UK to help the UK upstream industry implement the recommendations. The WLCPF also serves as a forum to discuss pan-industry well-related issues and to interface with the UK regulators.rnResults, Observations, and ConclusionsrnThe WLCPF has published a series of guidelines to help UK operators comply more effectively with regulations and to improve the UK industry's understanding of well integrity issues. Six workgroups, with input from over 60 companies and organisations, have produced guidelines on: BOP issues; relief well planning requirements; well integrity throughout the well life cycle; competency; behaviours and human factors; well examination and verification.rnSignificance of Subject MatterrnThe UK upstream industry has confidence that the UK regulatory environment drives the right behaviours to prevent a major well-control incident. Nevertheless, there are areas in which there is scope for improvement. The guidelines produced by WLCPF, and the WLCPF model itself, could be used by other oil and gas producing provinces to reduce risks in well operations.