Location selection of deepwater relief wells in South China Sea

By analyzing affecting factors on deepwater relief well location selection, and focusing on the regional deepwater operating environment in South China Sea and different rig positioning types, a calculation method for minimum safety distance between reliefs well and blowout well was proposed. In addition to the affecting factors on shallow-water relief well location selection, difficulties which are specific for deepwater operating considerations should be considered for deepwater relief well location selection, including metocean conditions, site survey results, blowout situation and evolution, influences of relief well location on relief well trajectory design, ranging procedure, ranging tool usage and dynamic killing operation, and fire hazard heat radiation and rig positioning types. The most significant factors for deepwater relief well location selection in South China Sea are typhoon and internal solitary wave. For a mooring positioning rig, the main considerations are mooring deployment, internal solitary wave and typhoon. For a dynamic positioning rig, the main considerations are operation window and other vessels. Based on analyses of affecting factors on deepwater relief well location selection in South China Sea, the well location selection method was demonstrated through the discussion of an existing regional well. Key words: deepwater drilling, relief well, well location selection, minimum safety distanc