megawriter only unit 2 Individual Project

Running head: DEEP-WATER DRILLING PROJECT

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DEEP-WATER DRILLING PROJECT

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Deep-water drilling project

Unit 1 IP

Pamela Murk

CTU Online

Project Risk Management (MPM344 -1602B -02)

Robert Richardson

May 22, 2016

Contents Risk management justification for deep-water drilling 2 Project Risks Identification 3 Project Risks Assessment 4 Project Risks Responses Strategy 5 Project Risks Monitoring & Control Plan 6 Project Risks WBS & Budget Updates 6 Project Risks Communications Plan 7

Risk Management Justification for Deep-Water Drilling

Risk management for deep-water drilling is paramount because gas and oil drilled at such depth are very dangerous and very complicated equipment are required. In recent times offshore drilling has been pushed to a new depth, companies are penetrating to further ground since the amount of oil to be extracted in deep waters is quite higher and also the depletion of land sources. The technology required is incredibly complex and invincible. According to Robert Bea an engineering professor the equipment and the steel that is strung out starting from the surface has a lot of weak points. The weak spot stated above can lead to the sinking of the whole project, leakage of the crude to the surface or rather explosion which may cause a severe environment pollution (Freudenburg&Gramling, 2011).

Another good reason for the risk management project is the harsh offshore environmental conditions. The harsh environment causes significant engineering challenges for the drilling equipment. Severe weather, storms, and ice leads to risks of functionality and due to the distance that is between land, and the mining area makes it very hard for rescue personnel to reach the area as soon as possible in case of any emergencies (Freudenburg&Gramling, 2011).

At times, the oil companies may be inexperienced at operating at such depths. The oil companies due to lack of experience in deep-water drilling may not have the skills of preventing other problems that may occur. For example, the British Petroleum Company that faced one of the deadliest explosions in the Gulf of Mexico, their efforts to stop the oil leak failed because they had never plugged a well at such depths before. The Deepwater Horizon Oil rig drilled the world’s deepest well, and it was unprepared for such conditions and the freezing water temperature (Draft shellfish restoration plan and supplemental environmental assessment for the North Cape oil spill, 2002).

Project Risks Identification

Some of the categories were risks could occur in offshore drilling could occur is in the drilling mining process. An oil spill and the instability of oil borehole is the primary symbol for an occurrence of a risk.

Project Risks Assessment

In the deep-water drilling to assess the risked posed by oil spills during mining, Mineral Management Services has a model for regulatory analysis, and it was developed by the United States Geological study. The regulatory analysis includes three steps that are to be followed that is estimating the probability of an oil spill, the second phase is to simulate trajectories of oils spills to critical environmental resources, and the last step is the combination of the results of the first and the second step to estimate the risk that might be involved in the oil activity. However, modeling of deep water spills is tricky due to the cold temperatures and high pressures, but the issue has been addressed.

Project Risks Responses Strategy

In the case of an oil spill, advancing oil slick can be prevented by various tactics and types of equipment.

Floating, physical barriers made of plastic, metal or other materials called boomers are used in the slowing down of the spread of oil and contain it in the area of the spill (Cheremisinoff&Davletshin, 2011).Skilled personnel team deploys the booms by use of mooring systems for example anchors and landlines. The boomers are commonly placed across a narrow entrance to the ocean such as small inlets or stream outlets, and this is to close off the opening and prevent oil from passing into the marshland and other habitats that are very sensitive. The sensitive locations include the beaches or shellfish beds.

There are three types of booms this is the hard boom, sorbent boom, and the fire boom. The hard boom appears like a plastic cylindrical floating piece, and it is weighted at the bottom such that it has a skirt under the water. Deflection booming might occur this is whereby oil is deflected into a different direction when the current of the winds are too strong. The other type that is the sorbent boom is a boom that absorbs the oils. The Sorbent boom appears like a long and large sausage made of absorbent materials just like the inside of diapers which are absorbed to fluids that are discharged. The sorbent booms lack a skirt; therefore, they cannot contain oil for long like the hard booms. The fire boom is not often used but it is used to contain oil long enough such that the oil can be lit and burned up completely. They appear like metal plates that have a metal cylinder that is floating, and it has the skirt formation that is made by thin metal plates. The sorbent boom is similar to the hard boom because they contain oil for long.

Another risk response strategy is the use of skimmers. Skimmers are boats and other devices that are used to remove oil that has spilled on the surface of the ocean before it reaches the sensitive area along the coastal margins. At times, the oil may be concentrated within a boom, and a skimmer is used to pick up the oil (Cheremisinoff&Davletshin, 2011).

Other more controversial methods may be used in case of an agreement between the local authorities and the response experts. An example of a controversial method includes burning in situ (Cheremisinoff&Davletshin, 2011). In situ burning was one of the methods used during the deadliest oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. In-situ burning is very suitable when the oil is fresh and the weather is calm.

Another method that is controversial is the application of dispersants by the use of boats or air crafts. The chemicals used to disperse the oil into a water column so that less stays on the surface where it might affect the tide flats or the beaches. Spills responses assume that all methods are effective when the conditions are conducive for putting them into practice

Project Risks Management Plan

For the deep-water drilling, the plan is for the management to work hand in hand with the response team so that in the case of any tragedy that might occur the team of reply would be readily available. Constant monitoring of the equipment by skilled personnel should also be enacted to prevent any risks. The Mineral Management Services has a model for regulatory analysis, and it was developed by the United States Geological Survey is should be used in accessing the risks used posed by oil spills. Available funds should be put in place in case of an event that might occur (On scene coordinator report, 2011).

Project Risks Monitoring & Control Plan

Monitoring of the equipment used in the oils drills helps the management to identify the problem and fix it before it gets way out of hand and affects the company any and its surrounding too. More experienced and skilled personnel are to be employed to note the slight defaults that may cause a tragic event to occur like the explosion in the Gulf of Mexico.

Project Risks WBS & Budget Updates

During the offshore drill, the skilled personnel should ensure the correct fitting are done in the equipment's that to be used. Any free machine or device might cost the company. The borehole stability should be studied first, and the depleted reservoirs that might pose a risk to the entire community should be dealt with.

Project Risks Communications Plan

The project risk communication plan should be well devised since the rescue team will be inland while the team in danger is miles away offshore. Well and digitalized equipment's and other signaling methods during the time of danger should be used (On scene coordinator report, 2011).

References

Cheremisinoff, N. &Davletshin, A. (2011). Emergency response management of offshore oil spills. Salem, Mass.: Scrivener.

Draft shellfish restoration plan and supplemental environmental assessment for the North Cape oil spill. (2002). [Washington, D.C.].

Freudenburg, W. & Gramling, R. (2011).Blowout in the Gulf. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.

Oil spill contingency plan. (1987). [Anchorage].

Chorafas, D. (2002). Liabilities, liquidity, and cash management. New York: Wiley.

On scene coordinator report.(2011). [Washington, D.C.].