Managed Pressure Drilling, Casing and Cementing Enables Success in Conventionally Undrillable Wells in the Harding Field

Mashaal, Mohamed Ahmed; Fuller, T. Florian; Brown, Christopher J.; Paterson, Robert C.

doi:10.2118/166170-ms

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 5 publications

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“…Managed Pressure Cementing (MPC) has been shown to improve cement placement and reduce the risk of losses during cementing operations (Bjørkevoll, K. S., Fjeldberg, H. et al 2008;Mashaal, M. A. et al 2013). Managed Pressure Cementing (MPC) has been shown to improve cement placement and reduce the risk of losses during cementing operations (Bjørkevoll, K. S., Fjeldberg, H. et al 2008;Mashaal, M. A. et al 2013).…”

Section: Mpd Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Real Time Engineering-Based Simulation Training Addresses Risk in Managed Pressure Drilling

Rommetveit

Davidson²,

Svendsen

2017

SPE/IADC Drilling Conference and Exhibition

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Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) enables safer operations and reduces non-productive time and thus provides the opportunity to reduce well costs. Many operators however, are not fully embracing the opportunity offered by the technology, due to strict regulatory requirements, and their perception that MPD is complicated and increases risk. A basis for this perception is that operator engineers in their designs, and contractor drilling crews in day-to-day operations, are insufficiently MPD experienced to fully and safely exploit the benefits of the technology.Today, the advanced, and field proven, engineering (mathematical) models that are part and parcel of the software used in well design are also available in state of the art simulators. These engineering models and model based simulators are used by engineers during the design phase of MPD projects to replicate the conditions that will be encountered during actual well construction; picking optimal casing setting depths, using different equipment set-ups, selecting optimal drilling parameters and demonstrating the integrity of the design under a wide scenario of well conditions.Once the well design is finalized, and before drilling operations commence, the same well design is programmed into a real-time drilling simulator. During subsequent simulator exercises,, rig personnel are exposed to the range of scenarios that can unfold during actual operations, taking into account uncertainties and unexpected events. Crews, at the hard end of operations, are able to hone their competence to deal with the unexpected in a team environment under the supervision and guidance of experienced coaches.During actual MPD operations, the same advanced models can be used for automatic simulation and well monitoring purposes; they can also be integrated into the MPD control system to accurately maintain the required well pressures.This paper describes the models used and both the classroom simulator-based engineering training and the real-time rig floor simulator training that will respectively provide operator engineers and contractor well site staff the in-depth understanding of MPD that will enable them to develop their respective skills to safely and cost effectively exploit the many benefits offered by MPD.

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Section: Mpd Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Real Time Engineering-Based Simulation Training Addresses Risk in Managed Pressure Drilling

Rommetveit

Davidson²,

Svendsen

2017

SPE/IADC Drilling Conference and Exhibition

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Making Un-Drillable HPHT Well Drillable using Mud Cap Drilling

Al-Awadhi

Ameri

Kikuchi³

et al. 2014

Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference

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The operator of Well-A, a HPHT gas well in offshore Abu Dhabi faced a difficulty to drill ahead in a high-pressure fractured gas reservoir of "K" formation due to severe lost circulation followed by gas influx into the wellbore, namely loss/kick incident. The sudden and huge amount of mud losses at the bottom part of the reservoir led to gas flowing from the upper one observing a rapid pressure hump in the annulus between the wellbore and drill pipe. The operator then experienced complex well control situations including the burning of the entry gas to the atmosphere. The hole was finally plugged for the sidetracking due to a sticking occasion during the remedial action for the losses.The integrated drilling team recognized a little or no success of drilling to the intended well total depth in case of continuously using conventional drilling methods, began to pursue alternatives and soon initiated Mud Cap Drilling, one of the MPD methods at the multiply fractured reservoir while drilling the 8 -3/8Љ sidetracked hole. The application of the Mud Cap Drilling permitted efficient drilling resulting in 27 days' time saving compared with the planned duration. Furthermore, it completely prevented the well from flowing and could make the un-drillable well drillable.This successful drilling of the problematic gas reservoir using Mud Cap Drilling in the Well A has made a further encouragement of drilling HPHT gas exploration wells, which contain a lot of uncertainties in the formation pore pressure and fracture gradient profiles. The MPD as a flow control and pressure steering tool will prevent the forthcoming HPHT gas exploration wells from several drilling hazards resulting in NPT such as kick control, losses, wellbore instability, and differential sticking, slow ROP, etc. Moreover, it will allow minimizing the number of casing to be run and reducing formation damage to the gas reservoir.This paper describes the positive impacts of the application using PMCD equipment, lessons learned from the implementation and areas for the further improvement of MPD application in future.

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Utilizing a Fully Automated MPD System to Run and Cement 9-5/8 in. Liner String in HPHT Gas Wells

Aljubran

Oqaili

Ezi

et al. 2018

Day 1 Tue, April 17, 2018

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The field of interest involves penetrating a predominantly dolomite and dolomitic limestone formation associated with highly pressurized saltwater equivalent to as high as 157 pcf (21 ppg). The most over-pressurized zones are encountered across the ±1,000 ft. base layer of this formation where the majority of flow incidents occurs. This is further exacerbated by the extremely narrow mud window of 0.5-1.0 pcf (0.07-0.14 ppg) between the pore pressure and fracture pressure. Such conditions may lead to risky operations that include well control, high mud weight (MW) design complications, differential sticking, drillstring design limitations, liner equipment failure, poor cement job, etc. Fully automated managed pressure drilling (MPD) systems are utilized to drill the 12 in. hole section and walk the tight window across this rock. This approach allows for applying surface back-pressure (SBP) and accurately holding constant bottomhole pressure (BHP) while keeping constant MW throughout the drilling operation. This operation also witnessed the application and utilization of fully automated MPD systems as means to run and cement a 9-5/8 in. liner across this troublesome zone. Conventionally running liners in excessively high kill MW of ±155 pcf (20.72 ppg) while dealing with tight margins is particularly challenging as it yields total losses due to the surge effect. Conventional cement jobs also mandate filling the hole with high kill MW before the cementing operation, inducing losses and resulting in poor well integrity, leaking liner packer, wet casing shoe, etc. Utilizing MPD systems to run and cement the 9-5/8 in. liner allowed for multistage hole displacement, filling the hole with a lighter MW, and maintaining constant BHP throughout the entire operation regardless of any surface tool failure (pump cavitation, leaking cement head, and surface lines, etc.). This paper details the planning and design phase along with the operational sequence of running and cementing the 9-5/8 in. liner with fully automated MPD systems. A case study will be highlighted to establish lessons learned and best practices.

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Managed Pressure Drilling, Casing and Cementing Enables Success in Conventionally Undrillable Wells in the Harding Field

Cited by 5 publications

References 5 publications

Real Time Engineering-Based Simulation Training Addresses Risk in Managed Pressure Drilling

Real Time Engineering-Based Simulation Training Addresses Risk in Managed Pressure Drilling

Making Un-Drillable HPHT Well Drillable using Mud Cap Drilling

Utilizing a Fully Automated MPD System to Run and Cement 9-5/8 in. Liner String in HPHT Gas Wells

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