High-Performance Bolting Technology for Offshore Oil and Natural Gas Operations

Commercially significant amounts of crude oil and natural gas lie under the continental shelf of the United States. Advances in locating deposits, and improvements in drilling and recovery technology, have made it technically and economically feasible to extract these resources under harsh conditions. But extracting these offshore petroleum resources involves the possibility, however remote, of oil spills, with resulting damage to the ocean and the coastline ecosystems and risks to life and limb of those performing the extraction. The environmental consequences of an oil spill can be more severe underwater than on land because sea currents can quickly disperse the oil over a large area and, thus, cleanup can be problematic.Bolted connections are an integral feature of deep-water well operations. High-Performance Bolting Technology for Offshore Oil and Natural Gas Operations summarizes strategies for improving the reliability of fasteners used in offshore oil exploration equipment, as well as best practices from other industrial sectors. It focuses on critical bolting?bolts, studs, nuts, and fasteners used on critical connections.Table of ContentsFront MatterSummary1 The Challenges of Subsea Fastener Reliability Improvement2 Assessment of Critical Subsea Bolting System Design Elements3 Options for Improving Bolting Reliability4 Safety Culture and Human Systems Integration5 Innovation Opportunities6 Summary of RecommendationsAppendixesAppendix A: Statement of TaskAppendix B: Mapping of Statement of Task to Report ChaptersAppendix C: AcronymsAppendix D: Brief History of Subsea Oil ExplorationAppendix E: Selected Subsea Bolt FailuresAppendix F: Recent Industry and Regulator Response to CriticalSubsea Bolt FailuresAppendix G: Subsea Environmental Factors for Fastener DesignAppendix H: Bolting Regulations and StandardsAppendix I: Drilling Riser DesignAppendix J: Bolting PreloadAppendix K: Threaded Fastener Failure ModesAppendix L: Committee BiographiesAppendix M: Disclosure of Conflict of Interest