The Use of Dope-Free Tubulars in Offshore Operations: Experiences and Benefits

Abstract

The use of dope-free tubulars in offshore operations has been increasingly adopted by different operators since its debut in the North Sea in 2003.Dope-free tubulars replace the storage and running pipe dope historically used in casing and tubing by a dry coating applied on pipe threads in an industrial controlled environment.The elimination of dope greatly simplifies the supply chain process involved in preparing casing and tubing for offshore wells, thus increasing efficiency and safety, and lessening the environmental impact of the process.The main benefits of this technology are: improved operational efficiency -preparation, running, pulling, management of rig returns; reliability: connections are made up in a more consistent and repetitive manner as the coating is applied as part of an industrial process replacing a manual operation; improved well productivity: eliminating the damage to the formation created by the pipe dope; and reduced impact on Health, Safety & Environment.Operators' experience, after a short learning curve, showed great reductions in running time, fewer connection re-make-ups and rejects, better workers' Health & Safety conditions thanks to the elimination of unsafe tasks and the creation of cleaner work areas, and a lesser environmental impact. This paper describes the experiences and benefits of using dope-free tubulars in offshore operations in the main offshore oilfields, including the North Sea, the Barents Sea, Brazil, Indonesia, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Persian Gulf.