Offshore staff

BERGEN, Norway – AGR has completed its first operation offshore Brazil using its EC-Drill technology. AGR’s managed pressure drilling system was deployed in two wells in the Rio Grande do Norte region.

The technology is based on the company’s riserless mud recovery system that has been modified for use on Petrobras’ jackup wells. EC-Drill allowed AGR’s operators to adjust the drilling fluid level in the conductor, allowing accurate manipulation of bottomhole pressure for more efficient drilling.

AGR adds that the system benefited Petrobras by improving drilling of the tophole sections on these wells in two ways:

- All mud and cuttings were returned to the rig without any discharge to the sea, minimizing the environmental footprint

- The amount of drilling fluid lost to the formation was also minimised, while running and cementing the surface casing.

Petrobras Contract Manager José Fernandes said: “The AGR system effectively helped in controlling the pressure inside the well, reflecting positively on combating the fluid losses and reducing operational costs.”

2/20/2012