Abstract

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Approval Process for HPHT Projects in the Gulf of Mexico

For over 150 years the oil industry has relied on the use of new and advancing technologies to reach oil and gas resources previously unobtainable, either because of costs or technology limitations.  These technical developments increasingly depend on highly specialized technical knowledge and sophisticated analytical tools. The approval process for material characterization, design verification analysis, and design validation testing for High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) oil field equipment is one of the most challenging problems that BSEE has ever faced.  HPHT oil field equipment is characterized as equipment with a design working pressure of over 15,000 psi and or a design temperature rating of over 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Often the request, approval for use, and implementation of new technologies precedes the applicable engineering standard(s) by five or more years, and precedes the eventual BSEE regulation to address the technologies by up to ten years.  How does BSEE review new technologies? How is BSEE approaching the approval of HPHT equipment? 

About the Speaker

Mr. Russell Hoshman, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

Russell Hoshman is a Technical Advisor for the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), Regional Field Operations. 2 years previously as the Deputy Regional Supervisor for Regional Field Operations of BSEE. 10 years with the BSEE, Technical Assessment Section focusing on Deepwater Operations Plans approvals and approval of new technologies.  20 years with Chevron preforming workovers, completions, reservoir engineering and enhanced oil recovery (CO2 and steam) onshore / offshore fields in Louisiana, Mississippi and California. 5 years as a Petroleum Engineering Research Associate at Louisiana State University (LSU). Graduated with a BS in Petroleum Engineering from LSU in 1982.