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ABOUT US
TEMS International is an independent provider of environmental management and compliance services to the global oil and gas industry. Our services are focused on managing and optimising drilling performance and drilling waste in real time, while ensuring an asset remains in environmental compliance. Ultimately, our experienced team aim to reduce drilling costs and ensure legislative compliance targets are met or exceeded.
A leading offshore exploration and production company with deepwater and shallow water assets in the Gulf of Mexico contracted TEMS International to support drilling operations from October – December 2022. During the 59-day project, TEMS International engineers oversaw more than 23,083ft of drilling from a drill ship.
TEMS International provided its drilling performance management and optimisation, continuous environmental compliance legislation and carbon footprint reduction services during the project.
Prior to the project commencing, TEMS International engineers conducted an extensive audit to identify potential issues regarding the containment of drilling fluids, diesel fuel and other hydrocarbons used in the daily operations onboard the rig. These observations were either resolved prior to and during drilling operations, depending on their seriousness, or recommendations made to implement improvements.
SERVICES DELIVERED
Drilling performance management and optimisation
A process approach to drilling performance management that adds value to the entire drilling process. The service aims to ensure more effective and efficient drilling – reducing drilling days – through optimised fluid management, effective solids control management with the overriding proviso of safety and environmental protection.
Continuous environmental compliance legislation
Leading guidance on environmental compliance, prior to and for the duration of a drilling campaign. The comprehensive technical services and environmental consultancy enable well planners to ensure permits are in place, and that drilling operations keep pace with, or exceed, the evolving compliance regulations of drilling locations.
Carbon footprint reduction
Monitor and report the ways in which greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by optimising drilling performance. The service monitors the emissions of an installation and highlights the cumulative environmental benefits of using less drilling fluid, which includes transportation, shipping and treatment.
The work of TEMS International engineers to optimise the performance of drilling operations achieved efficiency savings through analytical sampling and testing, that in turn delivered environmental and operational benefits.
Through limiting volume of synthetic-based mud required to drill the well, overall mud costs are significantly reduced. This contributed to reducing the drillship’s carbon footprint through less transportation, shipping and onshore treatment being required. A permitted retention on cuttings (ROC) discharge value for synthetic-based muds of 6.9% has been set by the EMA.
TEMS International engineers produced daily compliance reports for the client whilst onboard the drill ship, providing critical data on the fluid and regulatory objectives of the drilling operations. These are legally required to be recorded and submitted to relevant authorities. A series of other compliance analyses were also performed, including static sheen tests, reverse phase extraction tests.
A waste fluid tracking log was introduced to detail information on wastes generated during the drilling campaign. This allows waste volumes to be documented, creating a more accurate picture for future well planning, particularly where zero discharge is mandatory and backloading to shore is required.
With the assistance of TEMS International engineers the client achieved its environmental aims whilst drilling, without the utilisation of a cutting’s dryer package. These focused on spill containment and prevention via the identification, and continual inspection, of potential sources of spillage and rig site procedural improvements, while new spill kits for the pit and pump room area were recommended.
