Today’s increased drilling activity will naturally lead to increased utilization rates and the need to expand the set of rigs being considered in operators’ selection and acceptance programs. As a result, there will be increased consideration of rigs that were cold stacked during the downturn. Athens Group Services is frequently asked to explain the differences between acceptance programs for cold versus hot rigs.
If properly defined, the work scopes for a cold or a hot rig acceptance are the same. If properly executed however, the amount of time and effort required to execute the work scope for a cold rig will usually be much greater. To explain this difference, look to the two primary parts of an acceptance program’s work scope, which are (1) defining requirements and (2) verifying those requirements are met. Defining the requirements is the responsibility of the operator, while meeting them is the responsibility of the rig owner.
It is unlikely that operator requirements will change based on the condition of a rig since these requirements are based on the drilling plan and not the condition of the rig. The differences between accepting a cold and a hot rig lie in verifying those requirements have been met. In other words, it simply takes longer to verify a cold rig meets operational requirements.
Acceptance is intended to provide operational proof that a rig does in fact meet operator requirements and is suitable for the intended drilling plan. In order to obtain this proof, the verifier must observe the functional operation of the equipment, review the operational and maintenance history, and observe the crew competency. An acceptance program work scope should not be started until the owner is confident the rig will in fact pass the acceptance program.
Whereas a hot rig has current class and other required certifications, a working crew, operational equipment, and an operational maintenance plan in place, a cold rig often does not. For a cold rig, it is often the case that class or other certifications have either lapsed or been suspended, the equipment is not ready for full operations, the maintenance records are based on the stack plan rather than ongoing operations, and the crew is no longer on the vessel. Until the crew is back on board, the equipment is operational, and the maintenance plan has transitioned from cold stack to operations, it is extremely difficult to make a reliable determination as to the suitability of the rig.
As a result, a cold rig requires additional time and effort due to increased pre-acceptance prep time and the need to apply more rigorous verification during acceptance. While a given acceptance test would be the same for a cold or a hot rig, the lack of current operational history requires more verification for a cold rig. For example, on a hot rig, you can review the last several weeks of safe operation by a competent crew for the pipe handling system. On a cold rig, that history does not exist, so you would need to see a more comprehensive live test of the equipment and crew to be confident the system is suitable.
So does this mean that operators should avoid cold rigs in selection and acceptance programs? Certainly not, as there will be cases where a cold rig is the best choice based on its unique capability, current location, or projected availability. However, the rig’s crew, equipment, and maintenance programs must be fully restored to operational status so that the selection and acceptance program can be effectively executed.
As demand for drilling rigs increases and stacked rigs are reactivated, be sure you are working with an inspection company with the experience and approach necessary to meet this challenge. Athens Group has the test and acceptance engineering experience to design and execute a selection program which can estimate the time and effort required to make a cold rig ready for the acceptance work scope. Once that rig is ready, our integrated systems test engineering acceptance plans are tailored to both operator requirements and the unique verification requirements of a rig, hot or cold.