WEST Services

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907 Bains Street
Brookshire, TX 77423
Ph: 281 375 5515
Fax: 281 934 1600

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Regulatory Compliance and Certification Services for
Well Control Equipment

In response to the recent blowout of the Macondo field well in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), the United States government has imposed new regulatory standards and independent, third-party certifications on all drilling programs in U.S. federal offshore waters. With this in mind, WEST now offers certification services for documenting compliance with these rules, regulations and policies, while helping you minimize the time and effort needed to clear these hurdles.

These new standards reflect a general trend toward increased regulation of drilling programs worldwide. To help safeguard their operations, a number of drilling operators and contractors have made these third-party certifications a policy for rigs in other locations around the world, not just the GOM. In situations where the standards are not clearly defined, WEST will work with you to apply the appropriate regulatory standards, your company policies and industry best practices.

Some clients also ask WEST to 'verify' or 're-verify' their equipment between certifications. During drilling operations, there is sometimes a question about whether the well control system is still fully functional, such as after a well control event or when a leak develops in the control system. WEST will work with you to analyze the situation and will provide written, third-party confirmation when it is applicable.

The WEST Approach to Certifications

WEST has developed a best-in-class approach for these new certifications that combines survey services from both our BOP and Systems & Controls teams. As a result, a WEST compliance certification is unparalleled in the industry in its coverage and technical detail.

WEST BOP surveyors will use WEST’s ATP survey procedures, customized for your rig, to check your BOP hardware and related systems for proper operation, maintenance and parts, per the new regulations.

WEST Systems & Controls surveyors will check your rig’s systems and controls to make sure they have the software intended by the OEM. Issues like unauthorized changes to the OEM software and malware (malicious software such as viruses) can affect the operation of a system. It is not possible to certify that the BOP system will work as intended unless the systems are clear of viruses and other malware, and are loaded with the correct software versions. The S&C survey will ensure all systems are fit for purpose, and then “baseline” your system so that future changes are more easily detected. WEST will also ensure that procedures and software are in place to protect your systems in the future. In addition to the above, the new changes now mandate regulations like API RP 75 and RP 53, which require in-depth review of drawings, MOCs (change management), maintenance processes and other areas.

During our rig surveys, WEST routinely uncovers new issues. Following WEST’s standard processes for documenting and leveraging these “lessons learned”, we work these issues to resolution and update our ATP survey procedures to reflect these in future inspections. At WEST, we are constantly working with our clients to help raise the industry to higher standards of reliability and safety.

The Value of WEST Systems & Controls Services

WEST certifications include a survey by our Systems & Controls (S&C) team.

Today’s sophisticated and expensive rigs have increased the potential for damage and downtime from problems in the electronic systems.  Below are some of the issues frequently seen by WEST Systems & Controls teams.

• Viruses – Viruses and malware attacks are now common in any business.  A rig’s computer systems may seem relatively isolated and safe, but today’s sophisticated, interconnected networks actually make cross-contamination easier.  This, coupled with the potential to alter rig controls, makes rig-based threats more dangerous and harder to remove than those in typical office or home environments.
• Undocumented Configurations – During architecture walk-downs and drawing reviews, WEST teams routinely find significant deviations in the systems.  These are often not documented or even understood by rig crews, and fixing the documentation often reveals other potential problems. 
• Software Configuration Management – WEST teams have found numerous issues with software configuration management (SCM).  Unmanaged software versions on a system create potential safety and reliability issues, and thus can also violate the new regulations.  Proper SCM procedures document and control the software versions and ensure clean backup copies in case of future problems. 
• Cables and Connections – It is common to find cracked cables, water-damaged connectors and other issues.  WEST S&C checks items such as cable connections, the bend radius of optical fibers, umbilical cables and system grounding.
• Incompatible Spares – WEST often finds old components and parts in rig stores that are incompatible with the current equipment on the rig.  The obsolete parts are mistaken for new and put into current pods or equipment.  Depending on the component, this can cause problems throughout the control network.
• Inaccurate Drawings – Drawings should accurately reflect the rig systems.  WEST surveys frequently find that changes are not documented, thus making maintenance and troubleshooting more complex and expensive.
• General Housekeeping – Many system problems are traced to more mundane causes.  WEST S&C surveyors will look for problems like debris strewn on control circuits, poor cable labeling, or boxes blocking vital cooling vents.  These can lead to damage, shorting of components or signal problems.
• Crew Knowledge & Training – The increasing sophistication of rigs has made proper training and maintenance vital for safe and reliable drilling operations.  During the inspection, crew knowledge and training are assessed by WEST S&C teams, and any issues are normally addressed directly with the crew.

Services Offered

BOP Compatibility Certification

Required for - each well using a subsea BOP (normally means floating rigs) in U.S. offshore waters.

Goal - Independent third-party verification that:

• The BOP stack is designed for the specific equipment on the rig and for the specific well design
• The BOP has not been compromised or damaged from previous service
• The BOP will operate in the conditions in which it will be used

Consists of:

• Equipment inspection and functional surveys on rig using WEST Acceptance Test Procedures (ATPs) for:
  
  • BOP and related components - design review of BOP system for compliance with OEM specs, including any upgrades or modifications for the specific well, and pressure tests
  • Systems and Controls (S&C) - review of BOP system and other integrated systems required for equipment control and safety
• Document/design reviews (in office and on rig):
  • OEM Certificate of Compliance for BOP equipment
  • Preventative maintenance procedures for major BOP system components on the rig (regulatory issue, not required for certificate)
  • Service environment, e.g., “sour” fluids exposure or H2S
  • Accumulator volume calculations (if not available, WEST will generate these specific to the well)
  • Fluid compatibility assessment, e.g., drilling/completion fluid compatibility with rubber sealing elements in BOP
  • Assessment of systems and practices for all relevant equipment needed to help operator achieve compliance, e.g., review emergency shutdown procedures that interface with emergency well control operations
  • Review of daily IADC (International Association of Drilling Contractors) reports, maintenance tasks performed and subsea engineer reports since last verification/re-verification (for re-verifications only)
• Daily and final reports for on-rig surveys
• Compatibility certificate for the specific well program (on successful conclusion of the above) with supporting materials
  

 

Shear Certification

Required for – each well in U.S. offshore waters.

Goal – Independent, third-party verification that blind-shear rams will shear the drill pipe for the specific well.

Consists of:

• Calculation of BOP requirements for shearing all drill pipes in specific well program
• Assessment of shear test reports for rig-specific BOP equipment
• Shear test reports combined with calculated data to assess BOP’s shear capabilities for specific well
• Witnessing shear test, when required (if test data not available)
• Shearing certificate for the specific well program verifying that blind shear rams will shear drill pipe in the hole per 30 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) section 250.416(e)

 

BOP Certification

Required for – Not currently required by U.S. drilling regulations, but available on request.

Goal – Independent, third-party verification that the BOP will operate as originally designed, and that any modifications or upgrades done after delivery do not compromise the design and operation of the BOP.

Consists of: Similar to BOP compatibility certification described above but without well-specific factors.

• Rig surveys with supporting inspection procedures for BOP components and systems/controls
• Design review ensuring compliance with OEM specifications and applicable industry standards such as API 16A

 

Why Use WEST for Certifications

WEST certifications are more than a few calculations and a rubber stamp. Our surveyors will check all aspects of your certified systems to make sure they are truly ready. In addition to a certificate and the on-site benefits of these surveys, you will receive written reports outlining our findings and any further recommendations we might have. With a WEST certification, you will improve safety and reliability while reducing your environmental risks, downtime and overall costs.

WEST strives to provide a higher value to our clients through “technical excellence.” This means that top quality people, procedures and industry know-how will provide immediate and lasting benefits for your drilling program.

WEST has conducted thousands of drilling equipment surveys during the last 25 years. Our surveys feature proprietary survey procedures customized for the rig, its equipment and the drilling location. To make the most of this extensive experience, WEST maintains an up-to-date BOP history for rigs surveyed throughout the world. Surveys include our database of “Inspection and Test Procedures” to ensure top quality results, as well as our searchable database for drilling equipment “lessons learned.”

WEST’s highly experienced engineers participate in the American Petroleum Institute’s (API) standards committees. WEST’s international presence also provides it with first-hand knowledge of the regulatory schemes of Norway, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the oil-producing markets of Africa, as well as other parts of the world. WEST even assisted in the development of regulations in the UK following the Piper Alpha and Ocean Odyssey incidents.

The firm has also conducted seven major technical studies over the last 15 years, including studies for the Minerals Management Service (now the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement or BSEE). These studies and decades of experience have positioned WEST at the forefront of the best and safest technology in deepwater drilling and BOPs.

Finally, WEST is a Texas-registered professional engineering firm that has been described by the New York Times as “one of the industry’s premier authorities on blowout preventers.” WEST’s experience with BOP design, function and reliability is broad and deep, including such highly technical matters as shear ram capabilities, secondary intervention methods in well control, high-pressure/high-temperature BOP elastomer performance, and BOP multiplex control systems.

There are reports of several new, mostly-unproven vendors offering these certifications. Before you choose a partner for your independent, third-party certifications, make sure they have proven resources and a solid track record that you can rely on. With WEST, you will get comprehensive inspections by highly experienced surveyors ensuring that your equipment is in a safe and reliable state that will reduce risks and costs for your drilling program. Given the rising daily rates of today’s rigs, investing in WEST’s expertise will quickly pay back your investment many times over.

FAQ

Q: If I used another vendor for my past certifications, can I switch to WEST now?
A: Yes, you can switch third-party certification vendors at any time.

Q: Most re-certifications are relatively low effort.  If I do switch to WEST, will extra effort/rework and cost be involved?
A: WEST has a high standard for our certifications (see Why Use WEST section above for more information).  We will review the work that was done for the previous certification.  If we find a shortcoming in previous work, we will need to redo the work.  Rework is not always necessary.

Q: Do I have to have a new Shear certification for each well?
A: Strictly speaking, no, if the well has essentially the same conditions and equipment as defined in the certificate.  For example, you may not need a new certificate if the well uses the same BOP equipment, has an equal or lower MASP (Maximum Anticipated Surface Pressure) than that defined in the shear certificate, and if the pipe is the same type and size. In practice, it is fairly uncommon for two wells in different locations to be similar enough to use the same certificate.

Q: What is meant by “each well”?
A: The BSEE requirements for APDs (Application for Permit to Drill) apply to BOPs to be used for offshore wells, including completion, work over, abandonment and drilling.