Overview
Worst Case Discharge (WCD) for exploratory and development drilling operations is the daily rate of an uncontrolled flow of natural gas and oil from all producible reservoirs into the open wellbore. The package of reservoirs exposed to an open borehole with the greatest discharge potential is considered the worst case discharge scenario.
Operators must submit WCD calculated volumes, and associated data according to NTL 2010-N06 (Information Requirements for Exploration Plans, Development and Production Plans, and Development Operations Coordination Documents on the OCS) and the associated frequently asked questions as part of every Exploration Plan and every Development Operations Coordination Document/Development and Production Plan.
Each Region is responsible for WCD verifications and decision documentation associated with plans under their jurisdictions. Resource Evaluation geoscientists and engineers independently verify the validity of the volume calculations, assumptions, and analogs used by the operator for the WCD. The BOEM Worst Case Discharge model outputs are also used by BSEE in oil spill response plans and cap and stack or cap and containment decisions made as part of the Application for Permit to Drill process (a BSEE responsibility).
Resources and Publications
- University of Oklahoma (OU): Worst Case Discharge (WCD) Study (2018) - Research and Development (R&D) furthering the understanding of critical (sonic) flow conditions associated with two-phase flow at high Mach numbers (0.3 - 1+) within wellbores examined for WCDs (See More).
- Louisiana State University : Worst Case Discharge (WCD) Study (2016) - Research and Development (R&D) furthering the understanding of the validity of existing wellbore flow models for predicting WCDs in the Gulf of Mexico. (See More).
- BOEM 2015-N01 - Information Requirements for Exploration Plans, Development and Production Plans, and Development Operations Coordination Documents on the OCS for Worst Case Discharge and Blowout Scenarios
- BOEM 2015-N01 FAQ - Frequently Asked Question Information Sheet
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