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.

The Innovative Integration of Wellbore Strengthening and Managed-Pressure Drilling Redraw the Line Between Undrillable and Drillable - Case Study from Offshore Mediterranean Deepwater

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmoud El-Husseiny ◽  
Taher El-Fakharany ◽  
Samir Khaled
Keyword(s):  
Total Concentration ◽  
Pressure Control ◽  
Control Mode ◽  
Integrity Test ◽  
Gas Field ◽  
Drilling Performance ◽  
Managed Pressure Drilling ◽  
Weight Window ◽  
Minor Losses ◽  
Wellbore Strengthening

Abstract Managed pressure drilling (MPD) has a reputation for enhancing drilling performance. However, in this study, we use it as a technology for making undrillable wells drillable. In the deepwater of the Mediterranean of Egypt, a gas field has been producing for few years. Water broke through in one well, thus, we must drill a new well to compensate for the reduction in production. Years of production led to pressure depletion, which makes it difficult to drill this well conventionally. In this study, we will discuss the combination of MPD and wellbore strengthening (WS). In addition, we will discuss the challenges we met while drilling and how we tackled them, and the best practices and recommendations for similar applications. The 12¼" × 13½" hole section passed depleted sands, followed by a pressure ramp. First, we drilled the depleted sands and confirmed the pressure ramp top. To strengthen the sand, we spotted a stress-cage pill of 645 bbls with a total concentration of 29 ppb. In addition, we conducted a formation integrity test (FIT), but its value was lower than the required value to drill to the section target depth (TD). Then, we switched to MPD and increased the mud weight. MPD in annular pressure control mode (AP) enabled us to walk the edge as near as possible to the impossible. Drilling this section was challenging due to the narrow mud weight window (MWW). We faced kick-loss cycles, where we had high-gas levels (from 20% to 55%) while drilling with a loss rate from 60 to 255 bph, at the same time. The 8½″ × 9½″ hole section will cover a depleted reservoir. Therefore, we decided to use the MPD to drill this section. To widen the MWW, we decided to stress-caging the hole, as we drill. We loaded the active-mud system with stress-cage materials totaling 39 ppb. We drilled the hole section while keeping the bottom hole pressure (BHP) at 14.6 ppg. We drilled using MPD by maintaining 525-psi surface back pressure (SBP). We used the SBP mode (semi-auto mode) to add connections, resulting in minor background gases and minor losses. This study discusses the application of a novel combination of MPD and WS. It emphasizes how MPD can integrate with other technologies to offer a practical solution to future drilling challenges in deepwater-drilling environments.

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.

scholarly journals Optimization of Hot-Water Drilling in Ice with Near-Bottom Circulation

Water ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 127
Author(s):  
Gaoli Zhao ◽  
Pavel G. Talalay ◽  
Xiaopeng Fan ◽  
Nan Zhang ◽  
Yunchen Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Technology Development ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Drilling Process ◽  
Outlet Temperature ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Rate Of Penetration ◽  
Drilling Performance ◽  
Drilling Technology ◽  
Jet Nozzle ◽  
Lower Flow Rate

Hot-water drilling in ice with near-bottom circulation is more advantageous than traditional hot-water drilling with all-over borehole circulation in terms of power consumption and weight. However, the drilling performance of this type of drill has been poorly studied. Initial experiments showed that drilling with single-orifice nozzles did not proceed smoothly. To achieve the best drilling performance, nozzles with different orifice numbers and structures are evaluated in the present study. The testing results show that a single-orifice nozzle with a 3 mm nozzle diameter and a nine-jet nozzle with a forward angle of 35° had the highest rate of penetration (1.7–1.8 m h−1) with 5.6–6.0 kW heating power. However, the nozzles with backward holes ensured a smoother drilling process and a larger borehole, although the rate of penetration was approximately 13% slower. A comparison of the hollow and solid thermal tips showed that under the same experimental conditions, the hollow drill tip had a lower flow rate, higher outlet temperature, and higher rate of penetration. This study provides a prominent reference for drilling performance prediction and drilling technology development of hot-water drilling in ice with near-bottom circulation.

Engineered Composite Lost Circulation Solution to Successfully Cure Total Losses During Drilling Across Naturally Fractured Formations in Ghawar Gas Field, Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faizan Ahmed Siddiqi ◽  
Carlos Arturo Banos Caballero ◽  
Fabricio Moretti ◽  
Mohamed AlMahroos ◽  
Uttam Aswal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Circulation System ◽  
Cement Slurry ◽  
Fiber System ◽  
Gas Field ◽  
Well Control ◽  
Lost Circulation ◽  
Carbonate Formation ◽  
Naturally Fractured ◽  
Zonal Isolation

Abstract Lost circulation is one of the major challenges while drilling oil and gas wells across the world. It not only results in nonproductive time and additional costs, but also poses well control risk while drilling and can be detrimental to zonal isolation after the cementing operation. In Ghawar Gas field of Saudi Arabia, lost circulation across some naturally fractured formations is a key risk as it results in immediate drilling problems such as well control, formation pack-off and stuck pipe. In addition, it can lead to poor isolation of hydrocarbon-bearing zones that can result in sustained casing pressure over the life cycle of the well. A decision flowchart has been developed to combat losses across these natural fractures while drilling, but there is no single solution that has a high success rate in curing the losses and regaining returns. Multiple conventional lost circulation material pills, conventional cement plugs, diesel-oil-bentonite-cement slurries, gravel packs, and reactive pills have been tried on different wells, but the probability of curing the losses is quite low. The success with these methods has been sporadic and shown poor repeatability, so the need of an engineered approach to mitigate losses is imperative. An engineered composite lost-circulation solution was designed and pumped to regain the returns successfully after total losses across two different formations on a gas well in Ghawar field. Multiple types of lost-circulation material were tried on this well; however, all was lost to the naturally fractured carbonate formation. Therefore, a lost-circulation solution was proposed that included a fiber-based lost-circulation control (FBLC) pill, composed of a viscosifier, optimized solid package and engineered fiber system, followed by a thixotropic cement slurry. The approach was to pump these fluids in a fluid train so the FBLC pill formed a barrier at the face of the formation while the thixotropic cement slurry formed a rapid gel and quickly set after the placement to minimize the risk of losing all the fluids to the formation. Once this solution was executed, it helped to regain fluid returns successfully across one of the naturally fractured zones. Later, total losses were encountered again across a deeper loss zone that were also cured using this novel approach. The implementation of this lost-circulation system on two occasions in different formations has proven its applicability in different conditions and can be developed into a standard engineered approach for curing losses. It has greatly helped to build confidence with the client, as it contributed towards minimizing non-productive time, mitigated the risk of well control, and assisted in avoiding any remedial cementing operations that may have developed due to poor zonal isolation across certain critical flow zones.

Case Study: Implementing Continuous Circulation and Managed Pressure Drilling Techniques to Drill in the Challenging Perla Gas Field in Offshore Venezuela

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Jose Arellano ◽  
Javier Enrique Pozzo Huerta ◽  
Rachel Johnson ◽  
Isabel Poletzky ◽  
Bikram Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Gas Field ◽  
Managed Pressure Drilling

Utilising Managed Pressure Drilling to Drill Shale Gas Horizontal Well in Fuling Shale Gas Field

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Wang ◽  
H. Zhou ◽  
H. Fan ◽  
N. Si ◽  
J. Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shale Gas ◽  
Horizontal Well ◽  
Gas Field ◽  
Managed Pressure Drilling
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