The article’s authors are J.R McEntee and R. L Geer.
The problem solved is the lack of efficient exploration approaches of hydrocarbons that occur underwater, specifically those in depths of water greater than 150 feet. Economic and physical challenges have been witnessed due to the stakeholders’ inability to apply specific conventional drilling methods to exploit such hydrocarbons.
Instrumentation is the primary approach to the development of a solution by the authors. Other than undertaking a study to monitor a wellhead control system’s operation and suitability, the authors used several instruments to determine the pressure underwater, determining platform positions, line tensions, and positioning of valves, among others. Moreover, the authors also used long term experience in their field of expertise to determine aspects such as facility positioning and well maintenance. The authors mainly dwelt on field studies, theoretical studies by using other frameworks used in different fields and, in very few cases, numerical analysis.
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The solution to the problem was the institution of underwater drilling methods. Simultaneously, the production of wells on floating hydrocarbons and undertaking operations without a need for divers to monitor underwater operations has also been an effective solution to the problem. Specifically, the exploitation of such resources has been made possible by using wellhead equipment to make the required wells on a floating platform. The above solution is a new method whose efficiency has been tested through instrumentation, simulation, and existing literature.
Although the authors comprehensively discuss the solution to the problem at hand, one of the limitations is ambiguity in explaining the steps used to reach the solution. Haphazard presentation of information could make it difficult for the audience not conversant with the topic to make sense of the problem and the solutions fully. Another limitation is that authors have not clearly pointed out the several limitations or challenges that come with such a method, given that there are no production systems that are 100% efficient. Individuals or organizations interested in utilizing such an approach will not find all the necessary information in the same article but will need to do extra research.
