Augmenting Deepwater Well Control with Managed Pressure Drilling Equipment

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Austin Johnson ◽  
Brian Piccolo ◽  
Henry Pinkstone ◽  
Bo Anderson ◽  
Justin Fraczek
Keyword(s):  
Well Control ◽  
Drilling Equipment ◽  
Managed Pressure Drilling

Analysis of Riser Gas Pressure from Full-Scale Gas-in-Riser Experiments with Instrumentation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahendra R Kunju ◽  
Mauricio A Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Full Scale ◽  
Drilling Process ◽  
Control Methods ◽  
State University ◽  
Gas Migration ◽  
Well Control ◽  
Louisiana State University ◽  
Managed Pressure Drilling ◽  
Upward Transport ◽  
Minimal Fluid

Abstract As the use of adaptive drilling process like Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) facilitates drilling of otherwise non-drillable wells with faster corrective action, the drilling industry should review some of the misconceptions to produce more efficient well control methods. This paper discusses results from full-scale experiments recently conducted in an extensively instrumented test well at Louisiana State University (LSU) and demonstrate that common expectations regarding the potential for high/damaging internal riser pressures resulting from upward transport or aggregation of riser gas are unfounded, particularly when compressibility of riser and its contents are considered. This research also demonstrates the minimal fluid bleed volumes required to reduce pressure build-up consequences of free gas migration in a fully closed riser.

Comparative Study of Managed Pressure Drilling Application in Deepwater Gas Wells - Case Study from Offshore Eastern Mediterranean of Egypt

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmoud Ahmed El-Husseiny ◽  
Samir Mohamed Khaled ◽  
Taher El-Sebaay El-Fakharany ◽  
Yehia Mohamed Al-Nadi
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Study ◽  
Detection System ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Gas Wells ◽  
Gas Field ◽  
Well Control ◽  
Rate Of Penetration ◽  
Drilling Performance ◽  
Managed Pressure Drilling ◽  
Conventional Drilling

Abstract Although devised in 2003, managed pressure drilling (MPD) has gained widespread popularity in recent years to precisely control the annular pressure profile throughout the wellbore. Due to the relatively high cost and complexity of implementing MPD, some operators still face a challenge deciding whether or not to MPD the well. In the offshore Mediterranean of Egypt, severe to catastrophic mud losses are encountered while conventionally drilling deepwater wells through cavernous fractured carbonate gas reservoirs with a narrow pore pressure-fracture gradient (PP-FG) window, leading to the risk of not reaching the planned target depth (TD). Furthermore, treating such losses was associated with long non-productive time (NPT), massive volume consumption of cement, and lost-circulation materials (LCM), in addition to well control situations encountered several times due to loss of hydrostatic head during severe losses. Accordingly, the operator decided to abandon the conventional drilling method and implement MPD technology to drill these problematic formations. In this paper, the application of MPD is to be examined versus the conventional drilling in terms of well control events, NPT, rate of penetration (ROP), mud losses per drilled meter, LCM volume pumped, and drilling operations optimization. According to the comparative study, MPD application showed a drastic improvement in all drilling performance aspects over the conventional drilling where the mud losses per drilled meter reduced from 19.6 m3/m to 3.7m3/m (123.2 bbl/m to 23.4 bbl/m). In addition to that, a 35% reduction of NPT and also a 35% reduction of LCM pumped, and 67.2 % reduction by volume of cement pumped to cure the mud losses. Moreover, the average mechanical rate of penetration increased by 37.4%. MPD was also credited with eliminating the need for an additional contingent 7" liner which was conventionally used to isolate the thief zone. The MPD ability to precisely control bottom hole pressure during drilling with the integration of MPD early kick detection system enables the rapid response in case of mud loss or kick, eliminating kick-loss cycles, well control events, and drilling flat time to change mud density. This paper provides an advanced and in-depth study for deep-water drilling problems of a natural gas field in the East Mediterranean and presents a comprehensive analysis of the MPD application with a drilling performance assessment (average ROP, mud losses, LCM and cement volumes, well control events) emphasizing how MPD can offer a practical solution for future drilling of challenging deepwater gas wells.

Successful Wellbore Pressure Management Using Intelligent MPD and Continuous Circulation System on an HPHT Well in Vietnam

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bao Ta Quoc ◽  
Harpreet Kaur Dalgit Singh ◽  
Tuan Nguyen Le Quang ◽  
Dien Nguyen Van ◽  
Essam Sammat
Keyword(s):  
Detection System ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Circulation System ◽  
Well Control ◽  
Fracture Pressure ◽  
High Pressure High Temperature ◽  
Managed Pressure Drilling ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Wellbore Pressure ◽  
Exploration Well

Abstract A managed pressure drilling (MPD) and early influx detection system is gaining worldwide acceptance as an enabling technology for drilling wells with challenges that can lead to tremendous nonproductive time (NPT), significant unplanned costs, and increased risk exposure. MPD counteracts the high cost of these wells by delivering significant savings when eliminating fluid losses or well control events that cause NPT. MPD technology has proven that is used to not only reduce NPT but also enable access to reserves previously considered un-drillable. In this case history, MPD helped to reach reserves that could not be reached in the first well. Client planned to drill the well A, which is its second offshore exploration well. Early on in 2019, the campaign encountered significant problems because of high temperatures and a narrow pore-pressure/fracture-pressure (PP/FP) gradient window. Additionally, using conventional drilling methods in offset wells led to problems relating to kicks, loss scenarios, and stuck pipe. Before drilling the second exploration well, the relevant parties considered that the first well-presented multiple drilling issues, and they drew from past success. The latter job had ended with reaching all the well targets despite high-pressure/high-temperature (HP/HT) conditions using a continuous circulating device in conjunction with an MPD system. Therefore, this combination of technologies was chosen to drill the well A. The operator used the MPD system, from the start when drilling the 14 3/4-in × 16-in. hole section to the end when drilling the 8 1/2-in. hole section, in offshore Vietnam. Applying MPD technology on this well resulted in many benefits, including the main benefit of always controlling the bottomhole pressure through the challenging zones. MPD also helped to maintain the equivalent circulating destiny (ECD) and equivalent static density (ESD) during drilling, connections, and a logging operation to mitigate the risk of any gas breaking out at the surface and to drill the well to the desired target depth. This paper focuses on using MPD technology in conjunction with the continuous circulation system, in offshore Vietnam. It goes into detail by describing the experience and providing some of the lessons learned.

Successful Application of Managed Pressure Drilling and Cementing in Naturally Fractured Carbonates Environment of Prohorovskoe Exploration Well

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dmitry Krivolapov ◽  
Taras Soroka ◽  
Artem Polyarush ◽  
Denis Lobastov ◽  
Viktor Balalaev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Hazard ◽  
Development Stage ◽  
Komi Republic ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
High Hydrogen ◽  
Well Control ◽  
Core Drilling ◽  
Field Development ◽  
Well Completion ◽  
Managed Pressure Drilling

Abstract This technical paper provides the result of utilizing MPD technology for drilling and cementing a 127 mm production liner withing the Zadonian horizon D3zd in an exploratory well of the Prohorovskoe field. The previous wells drilled with a conventional approach in the field had complicated issues such as circulation losses and well control. It was complexified with high hydrogen disulfide concentration in reservoir oil which was a health hazard to a site personnel. As a result, to eliminate all complications, resources and operational time were needed. To prevent and eliminate complications in a long wall, core drilling and well completion, managed pressure drilling (MPD) and cementing technology with semi-automatic control system was applied. The project is unique as such complicated jobs with the core drilling and cementing with MPD were executed for the first time in The Komi Republic. MPD approach allowed to figure out bottomhole safe conditions and maintain ECD within a required pressure window. It is necessary to notice that a part of the section was core drilled. Knowing the window between pore and fracture pressures safety limits, a run-in-the-hole design with further cementing job was optimized. The execution was done flawlessly without circulation losses and well control issues. In comparison to a previous well in the Prohorovskoe field, MPD allowed to shorten loss circulated mud volume from 2 2215 m3 to 0 m3 and avoid non-productive time. Through accomplished goals and lessons learned, new grounds to well owners and well services in a field development stage are broken.

Accurate Pressure Management of Parallel Choke Manifold

2013 ◽  
Vol 325-326 ◽  
pp. 1241-1244
Author(s):  
Zhong Xi Zhu ◽  
Ying Biao Liu ◽  
Zhao Fei Wang
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Tests ◽  
Nonlinear Characteristic ◽  
Pressure Management ◽  
Pressure System ◽  
Well Control ◽  
Managed Pressure Drilling ◽  
Manifold System

The conventional valves used in the choke manifold for well control usually have intensely nonlinear characteristic of the match between pressure choking and vale opening. Therefore, it is difficult to achieve the precise choking pressure that is essential to the managed pressure drilling (MPD) through a single throttle within the scope of full opening. However, the parallel choke manifold proposed in this paper, i.e. a program of parallel throttling, can enhance the accurate choking wellhead backpressure for MPD. The fine linear choking principle and feasibility of the parallel choke manifold were analyzed in detail by calculating the resistance modulus of bypass valves. The formula calculated the resistance modulus of each valve under different working state. Furthermore, the laboratory tests shown the parallel throttle method can achieve the control of fine choking pressure by switching one or more valves in the branch pipes. Therefore, the proposed parallel choke manifold system can reduce the requirements for the linear capability of valves and provide some references to further study the surface fine choking pressure system for MPD.

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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