P.2 ~ MPD overcomes narrow drilling window to reach stranded assets

June 12, 2014
The long-producing US Gulf of Mexico shelf is being revitalized with new technologies, allowing operators to access untapped reserves in mature or depleted fields that would otherwise be unattainable. Among the methods opening new opportunities in mature fields is managed pressure drilling, which can overcome some of the limits of conventional technology to drill through a tight operating window, manage the changing annular pressure profile, reduce the likelihood of a well control event, and manage wellbore stability to mitigate stuck pipe.

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Lessons learned

Although the initial side track cost time, the operator and crew used lessons learned whendrilling a second side track. By deploying the MPD control system in the first side track, the operator was able to respond to well events in real-time and to use the information to plan a second side track with fewer hole stability issues. Instead of geological models, the second well was planned using real-time data gathered from the initial side track.

The Microflux capability was enabled by key components, including the RCD, installed on the well to contain and divert annular fluids while drilling. For data recovery, the device routes fluid through the control manifold, which has a Coriolis mass flow meter to capture in real time data such as mass flow and volume flow rates, fluid density, and temperature of the returning annular fluids.

The data is routed to the intelligent control unit (ICU), an independent SCADA control system that measures and analyzes physical properties, reacting to well control events, and distinguishing between ballooning/breathing and more serious fluid influxes or losses. The ICU sends data to the operator and redundant interfaces and, when in automated mode, controls the drilling chokes to regulate backpressure.

The real-time data from the initial side track revealed that while depletion in the reservoir had reduced the fracture gradient and narrowed the drilling margin, the more serious challenge was hole instability. The data also showed that the mud weight required to control the shales would need to be higher than the offset wells had indicated.

A common condition in many mature GoM shelf fields is that the lower pressure limit of the wellbore is the stability gradient. In a typical well the lower limit is known as the pore pressure and the upper limit is known as the fracture gradient. Drilling fluid density typically is selected to remain within these two limits. If the pumped drilling fluid is too light, the well may begin to flow hydrocarbons from the open formation resulting in an influx. If the pumped drilling fluid is too heavy, it eventually breaks down the formation, resulting in fluid loss.

In this particular well, however, the stability gradient was the lower limit. When the stability gradient is higher than the pore pressure, if the bottomhole pressure drops too low, the wellbore is subject to instability and risk of collapse.

Hole instability is exacerbated by cyclical stress from making pipe connections in conventional drilling. Normal drilling consists of drillstring rotation and pumping fluid up the annulus creates an added pressure transmitted downhole. This is defined as equivalent circulating density (ECD). When drilling stops to make connections, a loss of bottomhole ECD is observed and the wellbore is relaxed. The continuous shifting of bottomhole pressure can cause wellbore fatigue, especially in unstable shale or ballooning formations. Using the CBHP variant of MPD, surface backpressure is applied during connections to compensate for any ECD lost and to prevent the wellbore from relaxing, thus retaining an intact wellbore.

To perform MPD, a rotating control device (RCD) is required to close the loop. The rendering represents the MPD equipment used to successfully execute the GoM project.

A successful side track

The second side track kicked off within the existing 6½-in. open-hole section and successfully reached total depth in the target sand. MPD maintained the wellbore pressure profile within the wellbore stability limit and the sand fracture gradient of the depleted sands. Static fluid density remained higher than pore pressure during the operation. The MPD control system also addressed the specific drilling challenges of the well, including hole instability.

Three times during drilling, the MPD control system increased equivalent mud weight to remediate packoffs due to shale instability. The system also was used to place and displace heavy mud during tripping. Due to the higher-than-expected wellbore stability gradient, a key objective of the MPD system was to modify the bottomhole equivalent circulating density (BH ECD) as necessary during drilling. The system maintained 12.8 ppg BH ECD equivalent while drilling at the start of the well, and increased the equivalent mud weight to 13.7 ppg at total depth.

MPD benefits

The MPD system enabled the operator to successfully reach the target depth, while mitigating wellbore stability hazards and quickly identifying small downhole losses and packoffs. Such losses and packoffs were mitigated by increasing bottomhole pressure, eliminating the time needed to increase mud weight. There was no serious influx, loss, or ballooning. The system also manipulated bottomhole pressure when zones with higher-than-expected wellbore stability gradients were encountered. Upon reaching total depth, a dynamic FIT was performed to 14 ppg without any losses.

The system's ability to control the annular pressure profile of the well resulted in a safe and efficient operation that enabled the operator to restart production in the mature, seemingly depleted formation. Automatic kick and loss detection helped control risks while drilling through rapidly changing pressures.

The success can be quantified by the months of planning and preparation involved. Both the operator and the drilling contractor underwent extensive MPD training prior to project kickoff. The rig team reviewed MPD procedures and practiced MPD connections before drilling out of the casing shoe. The learning curve for the drill crew built quickly and, as their confidence in MPD knowledge and process familiarity increased, the time required to execute various MPD tasks decreased on the second side track.

Moreover, the success of the operation has created opportunities for application of the MPD in similar mature or depleted wells. The operator is currently using the MPD system elsewhere in the GoM.

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