Development and testing of underbalanced drilling products

Maurer, W. C.; Medley, George H.

doi:10.2172/106504

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…This correlates with a previous US Department of Energy study (Maurer et al 2001) using HGS4000 in drilling fluids. In that study, it was determined that the HGS breakage during impact with rock was not a significant problem.…”

Section: Figure 16 -Rop Comparisonsupporting

confidence: 90%

Hollow-Glass Sphere Application in Drilling Fluids: Case Study

Minhas

Friess²,

Shirkavand³

et al. 2015

SPE Western Regional Meeting

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In an effort to continuously optimize drilling operations and economics, an operator examined the impact of adding hollow-glass spheres (HGS) directly to the drilling fluid formulation instead of performing underbalanced drilling operations. Both nitrogen and HGS were believed to reduce hydrostatic pressure of the mud column in the hole, resulting in higher drilling rates of penetration (ROP) and fewer mud losses to the wellbore.Invert emulsion fluid was blended with HGS on three drilling rigs using a specialized, environmentally acceptable mixing system to help reduce density. HGS concentration and fluid density were monitored and maintained while drilling over the period of one to three weeks for these three wells. The proper type of centrifuge and its setup is fundamental to maintaining low-gravity solids (LGS) at an acceptable level for proper fluid management while maintaining the desired concentration of HGS.Drilling mud density was reduced, as expected, and mud loss was minimized as a result. Overall costs were reduced because of less invert emulsion fluid loss, a reduction in the amount of lost-circulation material mixed compared to previous wells in the area, and less time spent on the drilling rig attributed to not having to stop to mix lost-circulation material or prepare new invert emulsion fluid volumes to replace losses. A significant ROP increase was not observed during this trial. The addition of HGS is a cost-effective solution to help reduce fluid loss in the Kakwa field of the Western Canadian Sedimentary basin. This trial helped reduce overall rig time, and fluid loss experienced was less than in previous wells in which this technology was not used.This paper provides information on HGS as an economic alternative to nitrogen to help reduce the hydrostatic pressure of invert emulsion drilling fluids using a small-footprint, environmentally acceptable mixing system.

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Section: Figure 16 -Rop Comparisonsupporting

confidence: 90%

Hollow-Glass Sphere Application in Drilling Fluids: Case Study

Minhas

Friess²,

Shirkavand³

et al. 2015

SPE Western Regional Meeting

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“…Over the past several years, Maurer Technology Inc. 3,4 has been developing a simple DGD system based on pumping high concentrations of hollow glass spheres into the riser to reduce mud density above the seafloor. Muds with hollow spheres were first used for underbalanced drilling.…”

Section: Dgd With Glass Spheresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of Lightweight Solid Additives To Reduce the Weight of Drilling Fluid in the Riser

Cohen¹,

Deskins²

2006

Proceedings of IADC/SPE Drilling Conference

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TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 1.972.952.9435. AbstractThis paper describes the first phases of development of a drilling system for offshore wells based on the use of lightweight solid additives (LWSA) to reduce the density of drilling fluid within the riser above the seafloor. Equipment and procedures were tested to pump LWSA down to the bottom of the riser without damage, separate them from the mud after the fluid mixture returns to the surface, recycle LWSA for immediate re-use, as well as several other problems. Initial developments and tests are described that successfully addresses many of these issues.In offshore wells, particularly in deep water, the problem of maintaining a safe range of mud weights is compounded by the additional pressure that drilling mud in the riser exerts on the formation. If the effective weight of mud in the riser can be reduced, the range of safe mud weights is effectively widened at the formation, resulting in fewer casing strings and safer operations. Mud with high concentrations of LWSA might be pumped down from the surface through special lines and then injected into the riser at the mud line. The mixture of mud and LWSA flowing up the riser then weighs less than pure mud.LWSA were developed and tested as spheres produced from different materials including glass, composites, and epoxy resins. Tests showed that LWSA could withstand high pressures existing at the bottom of risers. LWSA were able to be separated from oilfield muds using conventional oilfield shale shakers and hydrocyclones. Muds with LWSA could be pumped with conventional mud pumps without excessive pressure losses. LWSA were recirculated many times with minimal breakage, demonstrating that they could survive in commercial operations.Significant cost savings will be possible in drilling offshore wells if remaining problems with LWSA can be addressed. In addition to reducing the number of casing strings required, drilling with LWSA would reduce tension load requirements on the riser and mud storage requirements on the drilling vessel, which will reduce the size of drillships or increase depth capability of existing vessels.

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“…No sistema de perfuração riserless, como o próprio nome já indica, a necessidade de um riser é eliminada. Bombas tríplex, centrífugas, elétricas submersíveis ou de diafragmas localizadas no leito marinho são responsáveis pela elevação da lama de perfuração a superfície através de uma tubulação (MAURER et al, 2001).…”

Section: -Riserlessunclassified

“…Outra grande vantagem é o fato de gerar um gradiente de pressão linear, uma vez, que essas partículas são incompressíveis. O emprego de esferas ocas de diversos materiais como vidro, compósitos, plásticos entre outro tem sido investigados (MAURER et al, 2001).…”

Section: -Sistema Com Injeção De Partículas Sólidas Levesunclassified

“…Para a implementação desse sistema de duplo gradiente representado na Figura 2.6 necessariamente todas as esferas devem ser separadas da lama de perfuração quando essa lama retorna para o navio ou plataforma. Depois de separadas, essas esferas podem ser circuladas e injetadas na base do riser novamente, enquanto o fluido de perfuração sem a presença de esferas é circulado através da coluna de perfuração (COHEN e DESKINS, 2006).Com isso, essa separação é um objeto de estudo de grande interesse.Os diâmetros de microesferas ocas de vidro comerciais variam de 8 a 125 mícrons.Peneiras vibratórias convencionais utilizadas no tratamento da lama de perfuração apresentam telas de 20 a 80 mesh (762 a 177 mícrons), ou seja, a separação efetiva não pode ser alcançada utilizando esse equipamento(HALKYARD et al, 2014).Devido a grande dificuldade na separação de microesferas ocas de vidro da lama de perfuração o desenvolvimento de esferas maiores, com diâmetros que variam de 2 a 3 mm, que possam ser facilmente separadas por peneiras vibratórias convencionais foi considerado no projeto industrial conjunto, proposto pela Maurer Technology Inc. Segundo a companhia isso garantiria uma separação de 100% das esferas e asseguraria a não circulação de nenhuma esfera para dentro da coluna de perfuração evitando assim, problemas no controle de poço(MAURER et al, 2001). De acordo comMaurer et al (2001) testes demonstraram que hidrociclones convencionais podem separar efetivamente todas as esferas de vidro maiores da lama de perfuração, mas não nas altas vazões requeridas em operação offshores (800 a 1200 gpm).…”

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Hidrociclones aplicados à separação sólido-líquido de suspensões contendo: areia, esferas ocas de vidro e fluido não newtoniano.

Alves¹

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Development and testing of underbalanced drilling products

Abstract: This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

Hollow-Glass Sphere Application in Drilling Fluids: Case Study

Hollow-Glass Sphere Application in Drilling Fluids: Case Study

Use of Lightweight Solid Additives To Reduce the Weight of Drilling Fluid in the Riser

Hidrociclones aplicados à separação sólido-líquido de suspensões contendo: areia, esferas ocas de vidro e fluido não newtoniano.

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