Gulf of Mexico Gas Hydrates Joint Industry Project (JIP) Characterizing Natural Gas Hydrates in the Deep Water Gulf of Mexico - Applications for Safe Exploration and Production

Project Number

DE-FC26-01NT41330

Last Reviewed Dated

09/19/2014

Goal

The goal of this project is to develop technology and collect data to assist in the characterization of naturally occurring gas hydrates in the deep water Gulf of Mexico (GoM). The intent of the project is to better understand the impact of hydrates on safety and seafloor stability as well as provide data for use by scientists in their study of climate change and assessment of the feasibility of marine hydrate as a potential future energy resource.

The Semi-Submersible Helix Q4000 used on the 21 day JIP Leg II Drilling and Logging Expedition

Performer(s)

Performers / Contributors / JIP Members:

Chevron Energy Technology Company – JIP partner, project management, Drilling and Coring team lead
Schlumberger Oilfield Services – JIP member
Halliburton Energy Services – JIP member
ConocoPhillips Inc. – JIP member
Total – JIP member
Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC)– JIP member
Reliance Industries Ltd. – JIP member
StatoilHydro - JIP Member
Korean National Oil Company (KNOC) - JIP Member
Minerals Management Service – non-cost-share JIP member
Naval Research Lab – pre-cruise site geochemical and thermal investigation
US Geological Survey – variety of contributions to the overall science program
Rice University - Geologic Modeling
Aumann & Associates Inc. - pressure coring tool evaluation and design
Scripps Institute of Oceanography – Science lead
Georgia Institute of Technology – Laboratory studies; development of ship-based sampling equipment
AOA Geophysics - contribution to seismic evaluation and field site selection and characterization
GeoTek Ltd – pressure core analysis and transfer device development

Background

This project is to develop technology and collect data to assist in the characterization of gas hydrates in the deep water GoM. The efforts undertaken in phases 1 and 2 of the project reflect industry’s desire to more fully understand the safety issues related to conventional oil and gas operations in areas prone to hydrate occurrence. These goals necessitate utilization of advanced seismic processing, collection of samples to improve the validity of the assumptions that drive seismic interpretations, determination of the impact on wellbore stability, and the development of field sampling methods capable of providing the needed data.

The emphasis of activities under Phase 3 of the project is on the characterization of concentrated, reservoir-relevant, gas hydrate occurrence in coarse-grained intervals. This work will help to quantify the seismic and geologic hydrate prediction methodologies developed as a part of the project, while also providing valuable insight into the behavior of concentrated hydrate occurrence. This activity will also help to advance the major program goals of assessing the marine hydrate reservoir and determining the technical recoverability of marine hydrates.

Impact

Information resulting from this project has the potential to increase understanding of risks and appropriate operational procedures for conducting traditional oil/gas activities in areas of hydrate occurrence; advance techniques and technologies used to assess gas hydrates in field and laboratory settings; contribute to scientific understanding of the role of gas hydrate in the global climate; characterize gas hydrate occurrence in the GoM; and serve as vital step in determining the commercial viability of marine hydrate accumulations.

Accomplishments (most recent listed first)

Phase 3

Researchers completed the operational plan and field-tested the PCS at the Catoosa Test Facility in Oklahoma. A technical review team was formed following the field test to further investigate performance and operational issues experienced by the PCS. Modifications were identified and made based on the field test performance. The review team completed their assessment and made recommendations to improve future performance of the PCS.
Completed land-based drilling/coring tests of the JIP Hybrid Pressure Coring System (PCS) at the Catoosa Test Facility in Oklahoma in November 2013.
Pro-log completed the fabrication and delivery of the service and heavy vans, which serve as transport and servicing containers for the PCS.
Chevron engineers developed a plan to test the drilling/coring functionality of the JIP Hybrid PCS at the Catoosa Test Facility in Hallett, Oklahoma.
Aumann & Associates Incorporated (AAI) completed construction of the JIP Hybrid PCS. Factory acceptance tests were successfully conducted in September 2013 at AAI’s facility in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The final design of the JIP Hybrid PCS has been completed. A total of fifteen modification improvements over the previous design were incorporated into the final design. The design improvements are based on knowledge derived from data gathered from the JOGMEC pressure coring operation offshore Japan in 2012.
Field tests of the Instrumented Pressure Test Cell (IPTC) and Pressure Core Characterization Tool (PCCT) core analysis systems were successfully conducted in Japan in January 2013.
Completed modifications and testing of the IPTC and PCCT.
Made arrangements with the Japanese hydrate program to allow the testing/use of IPTC and PCCT tools through analyses of core collected during 2012.
Completed the Chevron Leg III drilling safety assessment process, which mandated a Leg III operational plan with very specific operational and safety requirements and that focuses on shipboard logging and pressure core collection to be followed by analyses of cores from a shore-based facility.
Presented project activity, status, and results to date at the 7th International Conference on Gas Hydrates in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The final scientific results of the JIP’s 2009 Leg II LWD program were published in a dedicated edition of theJournal of Marine and Petroleum Geology (Volume 34 – June 2012) containng 15 full-length papers detailing site selection, field operations, and scientific interpretations of acquired data.
Completed design and construction of a new pressure coring tool, and updated the pressure core analysis and transfer system.
Completed design and construction of an enhanced pressure core manipulation and testing device and several pressure core sub-sample analysis tools.
Completed initial selection of a Leg III science staff and definition of scientific targets and objectives.
Public release of initial Leg II scientific results via the NETL website in March 2010.
Successfully completed the 21 day JIP Leg II GoM Hydrate Drilling and Logging Expedition.
- Seven wells were drilled and logged at three different locations (WR313, GC955, and AC21).
- Demonstrated the occurrence of gas hydrates at high saturations in reservoir-quality sands in the GoM.
- Found hydrate deposits in close accordance with pre-drill predictions, demonstrating the validity of the hydrate exploration and appraisal tools and techniques used in finding, delineating, and characterizing targeted accumulations.
- Logging featured the use of an advanced suite of logging-while-drilling tools that provided unprecedented 3-D images of the hydrate-bearing sediments.
- Wells drilled at WR313 represent the deepest gas hydrate research wells in the world to date.
- Discovered some of the most promising marine hydrate accumulations in the world.

Completed a detailed site evaluation and selection for the Leg II (Phase 3A) drilling and logging expedition resulting in potential drilling targets within GoM lease blocks WR313, GC955, AC21/65, EB990/992, and GC781/825.

Phase 1 and 2

Activities under phases 1 and 2 have been completed.
Published scientific results of the 2005 Leg I (Phase 2) expedition as a dedicated volume of the Journal of Marine and Petroleum Geology (November 2008).
Conducted a series of workshops to set the criteria for selection and recommend possible sites for Leg II and Leg III field sites.
Furthered the development of pressure core capabilities by supporting the analysis of pressure cores taken during the Indian government's summer 2006 expedition.
Produced and field tested new tools to enable ship-based handling and analyses of field samples from marine hydrate expeditions.
In May 2005, conducted the first hydrate drilling, logging, and coring expedition in the GoM.
- Five wells at two distinct GoM locations (AV13/14, KC151)
- Collected an outstanding suite of well-logs and borehole seismic through the hydrate stability zone
- Collected over 200m of core
- Identified a 60m thick interval of significant hydrate saturation
- Demonstrated the viability of pre-drill techniques and technologies used for hydrate identification and characterization
- Demonstrated the ability to safely drill / operate in areas of GoM hydrate occurrence
Completed an extensive array of laboratory studies on the physical and mechanical properties of fine-grained, hydrate-bearing sediments.

Current Status

(September 2014)
The project ended on March 31, 2014. The final report is listed below under "Additional Information".

Project Start

09/30/2001

Project End

05/31/2014

DOE Contribution

$40,215,883 (to date $34,751,964)

Performer Contribution

$14,752,993

Planned Total Project Cost Information:
Phase 1: DOE Contribution:$1,504,855, Recipient Contribution: $3,260,772
Phase 2: DOE Contribution:$10,992,620, Recipient Contribution: $5,613,664
Planned Phase 3: DOE Contribution:$27,718,408, Recipient Contribution: $5,878,557

Contact Information

NETL – Skip Pratt (skip.pratt@netl.doe.gov or 304-285-4396)
Chevron Energy Technology Company – Jimmy Bent (bentjv@chevron.com or 832-854-2656)

Additional Information

In addition to the information provided here, a full listing of project related publications and presentations as well as a listing of funded students can be found in the Methane Hydrate Program Bibliography [PDF].

Final Project Report [PDF-643KB] - June, 2014

Phase 3B Topical Report [PDF-22.2MB] - June, 2014

Semi-Annual Report October 2013 - March 2014 [PDF-818KB]

Semi-Annual Report April - September 2013 [PDF-6.49MB]

Semi-Annual Report October 2012 - March 2013 [PDF-1.56MB]

Semi-Annual Report April - September 2012 [PDF-1.98MB]

Semi-Annual Report October 2011 - March 2012 [PDF-1.19MB]

Semi-Annual Report April - September 2011 [PDF-1.79MB]

Semi-Annual Report October 2010 - March 2011 [PDF-1.02MB]

Semi-Annual Report April - September 2010 [PDF-352KB]

Initial Scientific Results of the Gulf of Mexico Gas Hydrates Joint Industry Project Leg II

Semi-Annual Report October 2009 - March 2010 [PDF-137KB]