The MPD Well Control Matrix: What is Actually Happening

Rajabi, Mehdi; Hannegan, Don; Moore, Dennis

doi:10.2118/170684-ms

Cited by 10 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…where: h 3 is the annular height the influx occupies at surface P fm3 is the annular mud friction P fi3 is the annular influx friction, which is assumed to be small relative to the annular mud friction, and is discarded Equating (8) and (9) yields:…”

Section: Post -Influx Bottom Hole Circulating Pressurementioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of the MPD Operations Matrix: The Influx Management Envelope

Čulen¹,

Brand²,

Bacon³

et al. 2016

All Days

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The MPD Operations Matrix was introduced in 2007 to serve as an operational guide for drilling MPD sections. The intent of the matrix is to balance operational, well, and equipment limitations with 'acceptable' influx volumes. The operations matrix has become the cornerstone of MPD projects worldwide, and is in fact a mandatory component of planned MPD wells in the Gulf of Mexico. In its current format, guideline for use of the matrix include developing criteria to categorize an influx such as its state, rate, duration, and size. Calculating these criteria and populating the matrix with them all can lead to some confusion, and many default to including only an influx size for simplicity, despite the fact that the other criteria can help in characterizing an influx further. Further, the acceptable influx size is most often limited to the detection capability of the MPD equipment, and not what the overall primary barrier envelope can handle.In this paper, a method for calculating acceptable influx volumes is outlined, and the calculation algorithm is adapted to a software tool. The results are displayed graphically in an Influx Management Envelope. The Influx Management Envelope is an evolution of the tabular MPD Operations Matrix, and includes all of the same influx indicator and pressure criteria, but offers a simpler, straightforward operational interpretation of influx limits.The effects of section depth, well geometry and hole size on influx volume limits will also be investigated, and development of a sample Influx Management Envelope is presented.

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Section: Post -Influx Bottom Hole Circulating Pressurementioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of the MPD Operations Matrix: The Influx Management Envelope

Čulen¹,

Brand²,

Bacon³

et al. 2016

All Days

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show abstract

“…The WCM is the preferred industry tool today and is required by regulators in several regions for using MPD techniques, (Mir Rajabi, Hannegan, and Moore 2014). The WCM is typically developed and agreed upon during planning of the MPD operation for each hole section drilled.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Influx-Management Envelope Considering Real-Fluid Behavior

Berg

Evjen

Velmurugan

et al. 2019

SPE Drilling &Amp; Completion

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The Influx Management Envelope (IME) Culen et al. (2016), is a decision making tool for how to deal with a influx during managed pressure drilling (MPD) operations that offers a substantial improvement over the traditional MPD Well Control Matrix (WCM). However, in the case study by Gabaldon et al. (2017), it has been found that the simplified analytical solution introduced by Culen et al. (2016) makes the IME inaccurate for many real-world applications. This paper extends the original IME that considers the gas migration in the annulus as a single bubble, without making the simplifying assumptions that are required to make the equations explicit and analytically solvable. The underlying equations that are required to develop the IME is derived from first principles and it is shown that using realistic equations of state (EOS) for gas, and a single-bubble type model, the equations for the IME can be numerically solved yielding less conservative limits. The proposed approach is significantly faster than constructing the IME through high-fidelity simulations. The proposed method allows the calculation of peak circulating pressure at the surface and the maximum weak point pressure for a given kick size and initial shut-in pressure, as well as a kick envelope with respect to formation limits. This makes the contributions of this paper relevant for traditional well control decision making as well. The effect of considering various simplifying assumptions on the resulting IME is studied and different scenarios that compare the results of the proposed approach with that of the original single bubble equation for the IME by Culen et al. (2016) is presented.

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“…In other words, a well control matrix (Mir Rajabi et al 2014) can be developed that defines the safe operating limits as drilling progresses. When data is sparse, or when a high degree of uncertainty exists, for example HPHT wells with predicted narrow drilling windows, the same well control software can evaluate worst case limits of kick intensity and influx volume that the MPD system can safely contain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

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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The MPD Well Control Matrix: What is Actually Happening

Cited by 10 publications

References 4 publications

Evolution of the MPD Operations Matrix: The Influx Management Envelope

Evolution of the MPD Operations Matrix: The Influx Management Envelope

The Influx-Management Envelope Considering Real-Fluid Behavior

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

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