US Government Launches Gulf of Mexico Blowout Response Drill [IMAGES]

The Laney Chouest, transporting the MWCC capping stack, departs for the simulated wellhead in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

The Marine Well Containment Company (MWCC), Royal Dutch Shell, and the United States’ Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) announced recently that they have successfully demonstrated the offshore oil and gas industry’s ability to respond to a deepwater well control incident in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

At the direction of the Department of the Interior and BSEE, MWCC initiated mobilization of its containment system, including the physical deployment of the capping stack, the centerpiece of the system.

The single ram capping stack stands roughly 30 feet tall, 14 feet wide and weighs about 100 tons.

The equipment was loaded onto the offshore  Laney Chouest at the Houston ship channel and deployed to a simulated well in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. Once offshore, the capping stack was lowered approximately 6,900 ft. on a wire and latched to a simulated wellhead, where all necessary functions were completed and pressure testing confirmed the ability to control a well.

“Through this demonstration, we effectively validated our ability to safely and effectively respond to a well control incident in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico,” said Marty Massey, MWCC Chief Executive Officer. “This demonstration is further proof that we have the right people, processes and equipment in place to be continuously ready to respond.”

The mobilization, function and pressure testing performed as expected and were within the anticipated timeline. The capping stack and ancillary equipment are currently being transported back to shore, where they will be available for mobilization should they be needed.

BSEE inspectors and engineers monitored the demonstration from MWCC headquarters, Unified Command and the two vessels transporting the equipment offshore. Throughout the demonstration, BSEE Director James Watson met with MWCC and Shell to witness the various phases of system deployment, and participated in daily Unified Command briefings with the Department of Interior.

“BSEE’s focus is safety at all levels and all times for our country’s offshore oil and gas program,” BSEE Director James Watson said. “The successful completion of this deployment demonstration is significant to the safe advancement of deepwater exploration. Through our regulatory program, BSEE continues to help ensure that industry operates safely.”

The success of the demonstration is the result of a strong collaboration that began in 2010 between government and industry, particularly MWCC members. MWCC has 10 member companies, including Shell. To date, more than 55 deepwater drilling permits that cite the MWCC system have been approved.

“Shell is proud of the industry’s ability to successfully demonstrate the Marine Well Containment Company system,” said John Hollowell, Executive Vice President, Shell Upstream Americas. “This is an important tool in our emergency response efforts, but our focus remains on prevention of any and all incidents. The success of the demonstration was a direct result of strong collaboration with the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, the United States Coast Guard and the Marine Well Containment Company team.”

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