AOGCC sets Hilcorp hearing for Feb. 22
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Petroleum News
Last year the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission denied a request by Hilcorp Alaska to use a 60/40 blend of methanol and water and/or a brine solution to test blowout prevention equipment on the Thunderbird Rig 1.
Hilcorp requested a hearing to discuss the denial.
Originally scheduled for October, the hearing is now set for Feb. 22 at 10 a.m. at the commission’s Anchorage offices. In the event of health and safety concerns, the commission said, the hearing may be changed from in person to remote using MS Teams. Audio call in information is 907-202-7104, conference ID 803255001#. Those wishing to participate by MS Teams should contact Samantha Carlisle, [email protected], at least two business days before the scheduled public hearing to request an invitation for MS Teams.
Written comments may be submitted, either to the commission at AOGCC, 333 West 7th Ave., Anchorage AK 99501 or via email to [email protected], and must be received no later than the conclusion of the Feb. 22 hearing.
In emails exchanged in August, following the commission’s denial of the request, Hilcorp said a 60/40 methanol blend had been used on other workover rigs in Alaska.
The company also said AOGCC regulations refer to specific editions of the American Petroleum Institute Standards and/or Recommended Practices and those editions may have been superseded by current API Standards/Recommended Practices.
In this instance, the company said, Hilcorp is aware of the language in the 1997 edition of API 53, but said there is a change in the latest, 2018, version.
The commission has asked for documentation of a 60/40 methanol blend being approved for use, and also questioned how a rig could be operated in cold weather with water if Hilcorp is concerned about using water as BOPE test fluid.
The company said the workover rig would only be operated from about April through October, dependent on weather. It said that during normal operations fluids are moving between areas where heat can be added, but during BOPE testing, fluid lines do not benefit from the heat sources which keep fluids from freezing during normal operations.
- Petroleum News
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