Seadrill and Oil States collaborate for safe offshore operations

Seadrill, a global leader in oil and gas offshore drilling, is to equip its high-spec fleet of floating drilling vessels with Oil States' managed pressure drilling (MPD) technologies, in a new collaboration aimed at enhancing safety and efficiency while simplifying and standardising MPD systems in offshore operations

Oil States’ field-proven MPD Integrated Riser Joint (IRJ) improves the safe handling of gas influx while significantly reducing nonproductive (NPT) time typically encountered with deepwater MPD operations, and is specifically designed to enhance MPD operational efficiency. This riser joint is more compact, allowing for safer and easier handling with greater functionality, which enables the rig to remain over the well while testing the retrievable seals within the joint. All features of the IRJ can be function and pressure tested while on deck. The IRJ is equipped with twin retrievable annular seals, a passive rotating control device (RCD) bearing assembly and hard-faced bore that eliminates the need for a wear sleeve. Together, these advances reduce NPT and unnecessary trips while promoting longer bearing and seal life. This contributes to seamless and streamlined MPD operations, supporting Seadrill’s MPD standardisation efforts while delivering safer, more efficient operations to their customers.

Cindy Taylor, Oil States president and CEO commented, “We look forward to a long-term relationship with Seadrill as we supply them with multiple MPD IRJs for their fleet of high-performance vessels. While supporting Seadrill’s adoption and integration of our MPD system, we endeavour to optimise our equipment to allow for oil and gas reserves to be unlocked safely and efficiently to meet growing global energy demands.”

Samir Ali, executive vice president, chief commercial officer, Seadrill commented, “This technology places Seadrill at the forefront of safe, cost-effective deepwater MPD services, offering our customers an unrivalled simplicity of MPD drilling while providing the highest levels of drilling efficiency and safety.”