RAPTORS DESIGN

How would you describe the technology?

The technology is a complementary solution to the existing methods of well control in the event of a blowout. Our technology could be deployed in a matter of minutes (if part of a BOP) to a few days (if delivered to site) and stem uncontrolled flow to give time for more permanent methods to be brought to the site and deployed

What is the purpose of the technology?

The purpose of the technology is to fill a big gap in well control technology. At the onset of a blowout, the top kill operation can be mobilized rapidly but if unsuccessful the next solutions (i.e., junk shot, capping stack, relief well) can be weeks to months away from implementation.

Who has the most to gain from this technology?

The entire oil industry would benefit from helping develop this technology. This technology can be used as a complementary safety tool in the Arctic, as well as offshore and onshore operations.

What is the business model for an operator?

Use the technology as a complementary safety tool when operating new high temperature & high pressure wells. Charge other operators to lease the technology. In the event of a blowout to a competing operator, implement HAWK tool and charge a premium.

What is the business model for a service provider?

The technology becomes part of the subsea toolbox, made available on every drilling rig or rapidly deployable from onshore.

What does this technology provide that current technology does not?

The HAWK technology provides a controllable method to control a well using the existing features of the BOP. The size of the unit allows for HAWK to be rapidly deployed. The aluminum wire entanglement mechanical plug generated inside the BOP can be drilled out after the well is under control, thus maintaining the integrity of the well. The HAWK tool can also: 1) be used to assist the top kill operation, and 2) connect to standard choke/kill ports. In the occurrence of a blowout the HAWK tool serves a complementary solution that could be deployed in parallel to the junk shot and a top kill operation.
For high-risk wells this tool can be integrated with the BOP for immediate activation in the event that a blowout occurs; thus providing an additional safety feature to a standard BOP. The HAWK tool can also be used for onshore wells where it can be attached to a choke/kill port such that in the event of a blowout the HAWK is activated stemming the flow rate.

Have you assessed the risks in implementing the technology?

We have received great industry input outlining the risks that we need to consider as part of the implementation. The HAWK tool is beind designed not to create an impediment to further deployment of other well-control devices.

What conditions (pressures and temperatures) is this product intended for?

The HAWK is intended to work in ultra deep water where the well bore is subject to high pressure and high temperature. The HAWK housing can be an off the shelf drilling spool. We intend to use as many market components as possible to minimize risks and cost. We are aiming to be have this tool at the frontier of oil exploration where the high risk of a blowout is a clear and present danger.

Do you expect the final product to be certified? (i.e. ISO, API)

Yes. After testing rigorously in a BOP testing facility we will proceed to get the product certified.

What powers the mechanism that releases the wire?

The tool can be self powered, ROV powered, or connected to the BOP stack. For the current embodiment we have HAWK tool powered via an ROV hotstab connection to drive a hydraulic motor.

Installation cost and time?

If the unit is integrated with the BOP, the integration time is nil, the cost is the cost of the unit and maintenance. If a blowout occurs and the unit has to be installed at the time of an accident, the cost is expected to be on the same order that of a capping stack for example.

Life time of the HAWK Tool?

The tool is designed to operate during drilling and completion. The housing of the unit can be made from a standard drilling spool. The internal elements of the tool can be inspected, tested, and certified prior to the next operation with minimal overhead.

Can it work with a drill pipe inside the wellbore?

Yes, the mechanical plug gets generated around the drill pipe.

Can you fully seal the well?

Currently we can achieve more than 90% sealing in feasibility experiments. Our goal is to allow the more permanent solutions to arrive onsite and be applied with minimal environmental impact.

Is there a way to remove the mechanical plug?

Yes. Existing tools for drilling can be used to remove the plug once the well is under control.

Can we save the original wellbore?

Yes. The original wellbore can be saved as the wellbore remains undamaged and can be used for production once a working BOP is installed on the wellhead.

What material is being fed?

The wire can be composed of readily available materials such as aluminum, brass, rubber, etc. The science lies in picking the right size of material based on the physics of wire entanglement.

How much wire is needed?

The wire amount is dependent on the wellbore diameter. Large offshore wells with an 18.75" wellbore will require more wire than an onshore 11" wellbore. It will also depend on the sealing efficiency that we want to obtain. We are focusing on fitting as much wire as we can into the device based on available off-the-shelf components to house the tool.

Can you run out of wire? Then what?

The unit is designed to be create the mechanical plug to control the well. Once the wire has been deployed, the HAWK took has ports to introduce drilling mud below the mechanical plug to kill the well.

How is the mechanical plug anchored inside the BOP?

The mechanical plug anchors itself axially on an obstruction upstream from the insertion point, such as partially deployed RAMs or the annular in a BOP.

Can this work on a gas well?

The physics of wire entanglement do not limit the HAWK to oil wells. We have focused our efforts on oil wells as the environmental damage to ocean life and communities is greater with oil wells than gas wells.

Can the wire plug be eroded from sand production during a blowout?

The wire plug is protected from erosion when the well control fluids (drill mud) are introduced below the plug. The established dense fluid column prevents oil, gas, and sand from traveling up the wellbore, thus closing the well and protecting the mechanical plug while more permanent well control solutions arrive onsite.