Marine Well Containment Company Progress

Abstract Following the Deepwater Horizon incident, ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillipsand Shell recognized the need to improve containment capability for a potentialdeepwater well control incident in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. This led to the formation of a not-for-profit, independent company, Marine WellContainment Company, which would develop, maintain and advance well containmentsystems for the U.S. Gulf. Following formation, MWCC gained six additionalmembers (for a total of ten member companies): BP, Apache, Anadarko, BHPBilliton, Statoil and Hess. This coming together signified unprecedentedindustry collaboration and is a key reason that drilling has resumed in theU.S. Gulf of Mexico. Leadership With a membership that includes the recognized leaders in deepwater drilling, Marine Well Containment Company is already a recognized industry expert indeepwater well containment systems. Approximately 70 percent of the wellsdrilled in the Gulf of Mexico from 2007 through 2009 were drilled by the 10MWCC members. MWCC's member companies collaborated on developing a deepwater well containmentsystem that provides the American public and government confidence in drillingin the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. These companies have also committed time, effortand considerable resources - including more than $1 billion - to put in placethe containment systems necessary for the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Key Accomplishments MWCC's interim containment system (ICS) paved the way for the lifting of thedrilling moratorium following the Deepwater Horizon incident. Drilling permitsare again being issued; as of January 1, 2012, 29 cite MWCC's interimcontainment system. Completed in February 2011, the interim containment system is an accomplishmentthat required a deep and shared sense of commitment and a common, unifiedpurpose. All of the equipment is being maintained in a response-ready state. The capping stack - the centerpiece of the containment system - is pressuretested regularly, and MWCC's dispersant stock is available and ready for use bymembers and non-members who have signed a System Services Agreement. The ICS isengineered to cap or contain a well in deepwater depths up to 8,000 feet. Improvements to the ICS were made that extended the capping-only capability to10,000 feet. If the well will allow, the capping stack can shut in the well andstop the flow of oil without additional system equipment. If there are wellconditions that require that the oil continue to flow, the capping stack willattach to risers and other containment equipment to direct the flow of liquidsto the capture vessels for storage. The liquid will flow through flexible pipesto riser assemblies, configured to connect to the capture vessels at the oceansurface. The system has the capacity to contain up to 60,000 barrels of liquidper day and can handle up to 120 million standard cubic feet of gas perday.