Get Your Risers Ready for the Rebound

With the market back on the rise, now is the best time to make sure your equipment is ready to perform.

Currently, across the industry, while rigs are out of service, risers are being stored and regular maintenance is often being deferred. Many drillers are electing to perform necessary maintenance when work levels increase; however, we caution that without proper planning, operators could face delays in getting their risers back up to par.

Here are a few things to consider when planning and budgeting for upcoming riser maintenance.

Planning now can prevent unnecessary delays later.

Without the proper planning, many factors can result in cost increases and delays in service. As rigs begin to go back to work, we see an increase in demand for riser inspections. We encourage our customers to communicate with us about planned work so that we can prepare and anticipate upcoming workload. Risers that have not been inspected in over five years require recertification. The recertification process can take up to thirty (30) days to complete. In many cases, parts and pieces will need to be ordered and are typically not in stock, which can result in additional delays in getting your riser back in service.

Together, as your riser service provider, we can plan and budget for these inspections now and mitigate delays.

Knowing the condition of your risers is the first step.

Riser issues may include damage to riser or floatation modules, flanges, boxes, pins, main tube or the auxiliary lines.

For instance, it’s important to ensure your riser auxiliary line retainers and nuts are properly maintained—specifically, that they have been removed, lubed and reset to the proper line gap. If these components are not properly maintained, the nuts can become seized with corrosion due to the saltwater environment, which can lead to issues when they must be removed for routine repairs or completely disassembled for 10-year inspections. Stuck nuts on risers call for subcontractors using special tools to remove them, or at worst, they will need to be cut off, which can lead to more significant expenses.

A person who is qualified to inspect risers can usually identify potential issues during a visual inspection. Visual inspections offer you the ability to budget for upcoming maintenance and schedule accordingly.

How can you ensure you properly budgeted for riser maintenance?

As riser experts, we know what it takes to maintain the most expensive part of your rig. We will look at your riser condition and evaluate potential exposure—this is a service we are providing at no cost to our clients. We will send a Level II Inspector to your rig or storage facility to provide a basic visual condition assessment. Our inspector will observe the risers to determine the level at which they have been maintained. Overall, we can offer you an expert opinion of your equipment and work with you to approach any needed repairs from the most economical standpoint. We also help you build your budget for the upcoming year.

The riser is a key component to operations and failure at the riser can lead to catastrophic effects. Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare for your riser’s maintenance. It will be particularly cost effective if you have the ability to get ahead of the curve. We assure you that your investment and forethought will pay off in the future.

To setup an inspection appointment, or for more information, please contact John Deblieux, VP Deepwater Riser Services, a division of Chet Morrison Contractors.

John DeBlieux

Direct: 713.344.9233