SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- White Papers Sought for Proposed Research Concerning Oil and Gas Development in
- Notice Date
- 12/31/2007
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- MMS Procurement Branch, HQ 381 Elden Street, MS 2102 Herndon VA 20170-4817 US
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- M08PS00008
- Response Due
- 1/31/2008
- Archive Date
- 3/1/2008
- Point of Contact
- Adrian, Olivia F. 703-787-1070, olivia.adrian@mms.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Email your questions to Adrian, Olivia F.
(olivia.adrian@mms.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This announcement solicits White Papers, of not more than five (5) pages in length for specific topics of interest to the Minerals Management Service (MMS) Technology Assessment and Research (TA&R) Program, Operational Safety and Engineering Research (OSER). For your information, the MMS web site has descriptions of OSER activities, the scope of MMS interests, and past projects. The web site address is: http://www.mms.gov/tarphome/index.htm. BACKGROUND: Research sponsored by MMS through the TA&R Program is used to acquire basic engineering information needed to oversee the orderly development of offshore oil and gas operations. New challenges and informational needs arise as companies use new equipment or procedures based on technological changes or as operations expand into new or different environments such as the deep water areas of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). The principal objective of this request for White Papers is to address innovative or technological advancements among topics of current interest to MMS. As a result of the White Papers submitted in accordance with the terms of this announcement, selected proposals shall be requested. Projects selected for funding by MMS shall receive funding from FY 2008 funds. The MMS anticipates a total of approximately $ 500,000 being available for the initiation of new research proposals addressing OSER topics in FY 2008 with projects being identified through this announcement. NOTICE: MMS may share the White Papers with other organizations for review. Potential contractors should let MMS know if they do not want the White Papers/proposals shared. Contractors should plan to gather data from an external source for these projects, where applicable, as only limited data may be available from the MMS. OBJECTIVES: The topics for the FY 2008 OSER activities include ONLY research on the following 5 topics: 1. The Impact of Marine Growth on Pipeline Risers for Floating Facilities Desired Outcome is to answer the following: How does marine growth affect pipeline riser performance in terms of stress and fatigue? How is marine growth accounted for in pipeline riser design including anti-fouling coatings and growth tolerance levels? What inspection programs are being performed? What cleaning programs are being performed? How does marine growth predicted in the design compare to actual in-service experience? Provide recommendations for improvement to standard industry practice on combating marine growth on pipeline risers. Reason for Research: Marine growth has been identified as being one of the most addressed issues resulting from the pipeline riser verification (CVA) program. Marine growth has also contributed to the failure of pipeline riser flex joints in some of the first steel Catenary Risers and Top Tension Risers installed in the Gulf of Mexico. A better understanding of marine growth is essential to formulating effective policy and mitigations in the pipeline approval process. A possible optional additional task may be to look at marine growth on mooring components / lines and also on ship shaped vessels (ex. Floating Production Storage and Offloading Vessels) to determine how marine growth would affect the speed they can travel when trying to out run a hurricane. This is secondary to the riser issue and may be addressed as an optional task. 2. Design Qualification Testing Requirement for High Pressure/High Temperature (HPHT) Equipment. Desired Outcome: MMS would like to get an additional recommendation on the design qualification testing, done under the load conditions that the equipment will see in service for newly designed equipment. This type of design qualification testing will need to consider temperature and pressure cycling and fatigue testing. Reason for Research: The MMS issued a Notice to Lessees (NTL No. 2007-G07) "High Pressure and High Temperature Completions and Workovers". This NTL was written for Workover and Completion equipment with a pressure rating greater than 15,000 psig and or a temperature rating greater than 350 degrees F. In this NTL we state: (Operating Company) "Provide a discussion of how you have determined that the completion or workover equipment is qualified fit for service. This equipment includes wellheads, tubing heads, tubulars, packers, surface-controlled subsurface safety valves, threaded connections, seals, seal assemblies, production trees, chokes, and any other equipment that will be exposed to the reservoir pressure and/or temperature." Although the committee for API RP 6HP is expected to make recommendations in the new recommended practice for design qualification testing of HPHT equipment; MMS would like an additional recommendation. The testing for HPHT equipment is very costly and facilities may not exist yet to do some of this work. 3. Evaluation of High Integrity Pressure Protection Systems (HIPPS) Desired Outcome: Many HIPPS configurations and control schemes exist. Specific areas of concern are HIPPS valve leakage rate requirements, HIPPS valve response time, material selection (especially in the presence of H2S), length of the fortified section immediately downstream of the HIPPS, determination of the ?weak section? (a concern has been raised that because of the extreme water depths, it may be difficult for the pipeline to be designed to a higher pressure rating than the riser). International standards and current applications should be assessed and recommendations on regulation for the Gulf of Mexico should be proposed. Reason for Research: API 17O (HIPPS) is currently in the developmental phase. HIPPS systems are being viewed as critical to future deepwater development, but experience with these systems in the Gulf of Mexico does not exist. While the systems may become necessary due to pipeline size and weight, there is a significant amount of risk involved because of the high pressure, high flow rate deepwater wells. MMS needs to gain a better understanding of the implications of timing, testing, material selection, etc in order to justify regulatory requirements. 4. High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) Elastomer Evaluation Desired Outcome: Elastomers that will not deteriorate or losing sealing capabilities at flowing temperatures greater than 350F and in H2S service have been identified as one of the critical gaps in HPHT technology. MMS needs a review of current and future technology to determine if any suitable elastomers exist or are in the works. From that list, tests should be conducted to prove the suggested technology. Justification: Without elastomeric seals in the subsea wellhead, BOP, valves, etc, HPHT technology will not be able to advance. MMS would like to see proof that new designs will function properly. 5. Subsea Blow Out Preventer (BOP) Pressure Tests in Deepwater: Desired Outcome: Address the risks and issues of A and B: Also, does an improved method for testing HP subsea BOPs exist? A. The internal yield stress limit of a BOP is independent of the external hydrostatic pressure for a subsea BOP (thick wall vessels). It does not mater how deep the subsea BOP is set, an internal pressure greater than the design pressure for the BOP at the surface can?t be applied. If you do, then the cyclic fatigue life could be reduced significantly because you are applying an internal pressure greater than the yield stress limits set in the ASME Section 8 Div 2 Boiler Code. B. At the same time that you are keeping within the limits of the yield stress in the BOP, you are testing the internal sealing elements (pipe rams, blind rams, annular preventers) inside the BOP to significantly lower values than the equipment was designed for at the surface. This is acceptable as long as you do not have a gas kick that gets into the riser before the BOP's are closed. In this case, the differential pressure across the sealing elements, during an actual gas kick, could be greater than the tested differential pressure. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The MMS is interested in research initiatives relative to safety practices for offshore operations. As a result of the review of the White Papers, proposals will be sought and evaluated for funding. Efforts to be considered should address the above stated issues. HOW TO RESPOND: White Papers of not more than five (5) pages in length, one (1) original, PLUS four (4) copies and one (1) electronic copy in .PDF format, on a CD shall be submitted to the U.S. Department of Interior, Minerals Management Service, 381 Elden St., Herndon, VA 20170-4817, ATTN: Olivia Adrian, not later than January 31, 2008, by 05:00 PM, ET. WHITE PAPERS SENT THROUGH EMAIL AND FAXES SHALL NOT ACCEPTED. White Papers should define the proposed research scope and include the level of effort. NOTE THAT COST ESTIMATES ARE NOT TO BE INCLUDED. The White Papers shall be evaluated on technical merit only. If your White Paper is selected, a proposal will be requested and you will be required to submit a cost proposal at that time. Projects shall be selected from all or part of the technical issues listed depending on the interest and scope of White Papers received. The MMS shall evaluate the responses, and those deemed to have merit shall be furnished information to assist in the preparation of a complete proposal. This announcement constitutes a Request for White Papers, but does not obligate the Government to consummate award. Respondents WILL NOT be notified of the results of the evaluation on the information submitted. WHITE PAPERS SHALL BE EVALUATED USING THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: (1) feasibility of the approach or solution; (2) the offerors understanding of the technical issues; (3) the offerors ability to implement the proposed approach; (4) innovative or creative approaches or solutions including the participation and/or funding by the oil and gas industry or other groups in the research industry, where appropriate; (5) past performance. If any of the requirements of this announcement are not met, the White Paper will not be evaluated. QUESTIONS: shall be e-mailed to olivia.adrian@mms.gov. The announcement number M08PS00008 MUST be in the subject line of the E-mail. All questions shall include this number, your full name and title, your organization, complete address, and telephone and fax numbers. Telephone inquires WILL NOT be accepted. A separate White Paper shall be submitted for each study on which the offeror wishes to propose. The White Paper shall identify clearly the offeror's company/organization, point of contact, address, telephone and facsimile numbers. Responses will be accepted only until January 31, 2008, 05:00 p.m., ET. If offerors desire to hand deliver a White Paper, they are informed the MMS facility is a secure office complex and offerors must not enter the building beyond the lobby. You must contact Olivia Adrian at 703-787-1151 and set up an appointment 24 hours in advance of dropping off your White Paper.
- Record
- SN01477582-W 20080102/071231223347 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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