Fishing in the subsea BOP: DP has its limits. A disconnect was required that resulted in a small fish and a unique way to solve the problem

World Oil, July, 2006 by Tim Burns, John Shaughnessy, Brett Cocales

[FIGURE 10 OMITTED]

CONCLUSION

The downhole TV camera proved essential, as did the maneuverability of the DP vessel. It is clear that without the input from a varied team, innovative use of the TV camera and the dynamically positioned rig, the well could have been lost.

Tim Burns is a drilling engineer for BP, currently working in Deepwater Exploration. He has 23 years of experience and has enjoyed a variety of assignments in the Gulf of Mexico, Rocky Mountains and Alaska. He has a BS degree in petroleum engineering from Louisiana Tech University.

John Shaughnessy is a drilling engineer with BP America in Houston. He presently is working in Deepwater Drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. His 28 years in the industry have been with BP and Amoco, drilling along the Gulf Coast. He has worked onshore and offshore, HTHP and ultra deepwater environments. He has a BS degree in chemical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.

Brett Cocales has been working in the petroleum industry since 1990, working for companies in the operating and service areas of drilling, completion engineering and operations. He holds a BS degree in petroleum engineering from Montana Tech and an MBA from the University of Montana. He is employed by BP as a wellsite leader in the deepwater GOM.