A Systems Approach to Well Control Barrier Management During Drilling Operations

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
John L Thorogood
Keyword(s):  
Systems Approach ◽  
Well Control ◽  
Drilling Operations

Impact of Data Quality on Well Operations: Case Study of Work-over Operations

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfred Enyekwe ◽  
Osahon Urubusi ◽  
Raufu Yekini ◽  
Iorkam Azoom ◽  
Oloruntoba Isehunwa
Keyword(s):  
Data Quality ◽  
Data Management ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Data Management System ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Process Safety ◽  
Well Control ◽  
Drilling Operations ◽  
Short Time

ABSTRACT Significant emphasis on data quality is placed on real-time drilling data for the optimization of drilling operations and on logging data for quality lithological and petrophysical description of a field. This is evidenced by huge sums spent on real time MWD/LWD tools, broadband services, wireline logging tools, etc. However, a lot more needs to be done to harness quality data for future workover and or abandonment operations where data being relied on is data that must have been entered decades ago and costs and time spent are critically linked to already known and certified information. In some cases, data relied on has been migrated across different data management platforms, during which relevant data might have been lost, mis-interpreted or mis-placed. Another common cause of wrong data is improperly documented well intervention operations which have been done in such a short time, that there is no pressure to document the operation properly. This leads to confusion over simple issues such as what depth a plug was set, or what junk was left in hole. The relative lack of emphasis on this type of data quality has led to high costs of workover and abandonment operations. In some cases, well control incidents and process safety incidents have arisen. This paper looks at over 20 workover operations carried out in a span of 10 years. An analysis is done on the wells’ original timeline of operation. The data management system is generally analyzed and a categorization of issues experienced during the workover operations is outlined. Bottlenecks in data management are defined and solutions currently being implemented to manage these problems are listed as recommended good practices.

Well Control Simulation With Nonaqueous Drilling Fluids

2020 ◽  
Vol 143 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe Chagas ◽  
Paulo R. Ribeiro ◽  
Otto L. A. Santos
Keyword(s):  
Drilling Fluid ◽  
Petroleum Industry ◽  
Critical Issue ◽  
Drilling Fluids ◽  
Operational Parameters ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Well Control ◽  
Operational Conditions ◽  
Control Research ◽  
Drilling Operations

Abstract The demand for energy has increased recently worldwide, requiring new oilfield discoveries to supply this need. Following this demand increase, challenges grow in all areas of the petroleum industry especially those related to drilling operations. Due to hard operational conditions found when drilling complex scenarios such as high-pressure/high-temperature (HPHT) zones, deep and ultradeep water, and other challenges, the use nonaqueous drilling fluids became a must. The reason for that is because this kind of drilling fluid is capable to tolerate these extreme drilling conditions found in those scenarios. However, it can experience changes in its properties as a result of pressure and temperature variations, requiring special attention during some drilling operations, such as the well control. The well control is a critical issue since it involves safety, social, economic, and environmental aspects. Well control simulators are a valuable tool to support well control operations and preserve the well integrity, verifying operational parameters and to assist drilling engineers in the decision-making process during well control operations and kick situations. They are also important computational tools for rig personnel training. This study presents well control research and development contributions, as well as the results of a computational well control simulator that applies the Driller's method and allows the understanding the thermodynamic behavior of synthetic drilling fluids, such as n-paraffin and ester base fluids. The simulator employed mathematical correlations for the drilling fluids pressure–volume–temperature (PVT) properties obtained from the experimental data. The simulator results were compared to a test well data set as well to the published results from other kick simulators.

Application of Well Control Technology in Drilling Engineering

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (10) ◽  
pp. 42-44
Author(s):  
Xin Zhou ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Technology Development ◽  
Risk Control ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Field Investigation ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Well Control ◽  
Drilling Operation ◽  
High Investment ◽  
Drilling Operations ◽  
Property Losses

Drilling operation is the leader of the oil exploration and development industry. The complexity of the process determines the characteristics of high investment and high risk. The particularity of the operating conditions determines the characteristics of labor intensity, gravity, and three-dimensional intersection, which all make the drilling operation process have various risks. These risks affect the efficiency and progress of operations, and even cause major accidents in serious cases, leading to casualties and property losses. Therefore, it is necessary to further improve the well control safety technology, so that the drilling work will gradually move towards scientific, safe and refined technology development direction. Through field investigation and literature reading, the risk of drilling operation is analyzed, and the causes, classification and characteristics of drilling operation risk are summarized. This paper summarizes the complexity of drilling accidents and the importance of risk control research. Since the risk control of drilling operations involves many fields, this paper only makes preliminary analysis and exploration, and further research and exploration are needed to improve the risk control of drilling operations.

Development of DNN Model for Predicting Surge Pressure Gradient During Tripping Operations

2020 ◽  
pp. 294-315
Author(s):  
Shwetank Krishna ◽  
Syahrir Ridha ◽  
Pandian Vasant
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Deep Neural Network ◽  
Drill String ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
Learning Tools ◽  
Well Control ◽  
Step Process ◽  
Well Integrity ◽  
Drilling Operations ◽  
Applications Of Machine Learning

Application of machine learning tools in drilling hydrocarbon well is still exploratory in its stage. This chapter presents a brief review of various applied research in drilling operations using machine learning (ML) tools and develop a deep neural network (DNN) model for predicting the downhole pressure surges while tripping. Tripping in or out drill-string/casing with a certain speed from the wellbore will result in downhole pressure surges. These surges could result in well integrity or well control problems, which can be avoided if pressure imbalances are predicted before this operation is engaged. Existing analytical models focus on forecasting the pressure imbalance but requires cumbersome numerical analysis. This could be solved by integrating DNN tool with the best existing analytical model predicted dataset. Consequently, the aim of this chapter is to provide an overview of various applications of machine learning tools in drilling and presenting a step-by-step process of developing a DNN model for the prediction of downhole pressure surges during tripping operation.

Casing Point Selection for Drilling Operations at Shallow Depths

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir Saman Paknejad ◽  
Jerome J. Schubert ◽  
Mahmood Amani
Keyword(s):  
Design Method ◽  
Cost Optimization ◽  
Elastic Behavior ◽  
Plastic Behavior ◽  
Point Selection ◽  
Well Control ◽  
Lost Circulation ◽  
Fracture Pressure ◽  
Drilling Operations ◽  
Shallow Sediments

In shallow sediments, unlike deep sediments with elastic behavior, the failure mechanism of the casing shoe is strongly affected by the plasticity of the rock. Hence, the common practice in casing design which is based on using the pore pressure and fracture pressure gradients plots is not applicable in shallow sediments. Moreover, because of the plastic behavior of the sediments, the interpretation of Leak-Off Tests (LOT) in Shallow Marine Sediments (SMS) could be inconclusive. Therefore, because of uncertainties in prediction of formation fracture and pore gradients, the conductor and surface casing setting depths have always been subject to debate. Also, incorrect interpretation of LOT would lead to costly problems that might jeopardize well progress such as; well control issues, unnecessary squeeze jobs, premature setting of casing, and lost circulation problems. Two of the most important factors in any design are safety and cost. Since safety is one of the most important concerns during drilling an offshore well, planning a design based on the well control aspects would be an appropriate approach to come up with a safe and better design. A well control simulator was used to plan for well control situations. In this paper, the results were generalized for different design scenarios and a simple design method is presented. Also, a new method, supported by field data from LOT in SMS, is presented to accurately analyze casing shoe leak-off pressure in the SMS. A safe design based on the optimum lengths of conductor and surface casing would enable the operator to handle possible formation kicks. Extension of this method to well design in general suggests the potential for safer drilling operations and cost optimization.

Riser gas risk mitigation with advanced flow detection and managed pressure drilling technologies in deepwater operations in Australia

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Julmar Shaun Sadicon Toralde ◽  
Chad Henry Wuest ◽  
Robert DeGasperis
Keyword(s):  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Control Device ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Well Control ◽  
Alternative Approach ◽  
Managed Pressure Drilling ◽  
Drilling Operations ◽  
Drilling System ◽  
Flow Detection ◽  
And Control

The threat of riser gas in deepwater drilling operations is real. Studies show that gas kicks unintentionally entrained in oil-based mud in deepwater are unlikely to break out of solution until they are above the subsea blowout preventers (BOPs). The rig diverter is conventionally used to vent riser gas with minimal control and considerable risk and environmental impact involved. Reactive riser gas systems provide a riser gas handling (RGH) joint that is composed of a retrofitted annular BOP and a flow spool with hoses installed on top of the rig marine riser. A proactive, alternative approach to riser gas handling, called riser gas risk mitigation, is proposed by using managed pressure drilling (MPD) equipment. MPD involves the use of a rotating control device (RCD) to create a closed and pressurisable drilling system where flow out of the well is diverted to an automated MPD choke manifold with a high-resolution mass flow meter that increases the sensitivity and reaction time of the system to kicks, losses and other unwanted drilling events. Experiments and field deployments have shown that the deepwater MPD system can detect a gas influx before it dissolves in oil-based mud, allowing for management of the same using conventional well control methods. Since the MPD system has already closed the well in, automatic diversion and control of gas in the riser is also possible, if required. This paper presents experience gained from deepwater MPD operations in the Asia-Pacific to illustrate this, and possible deployment options in Australia are discussed.

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