Automated MPD System in Offshore Gulf of Mexico Further Substantiates Value of Drilling Technique in High-Pressure Zones
Authors
Alberto Barbosa (Weatherford) | Gilbert Gallego (Weatherford) | Fabricio Clemente (Weatherford) | Rivelino Padilla (Weatherford) | Gabriel Enrique Garcia Mondragón (PEMEX) | Jose Antonio Balderas (PEMEX)
Publisher
SPE - Society of Petroleum Engineers
Publication Date
May 17, 2017
Source
SPE Latin America and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference, 17-19 May, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Paper ID
SPE-185523-MS
Abstract
This paper presents a case history that demonstrates the benefits of drilling using automated managed pressure drilling (MPD) technology rather than conventional equipment. Primary factors for the comparison include drilling time, volume of fluid losses to the formation, and performance drilling statistics.
Automated MPD technology provided a non-conventional approach to achieve the main objective during this project. The goal was to reach the planned total depth (TD) in the 8 1/2-in. well section that has a high-pressure zone while reducing pressure-related nonproductive time (NPT). An automatic monitoring and reaction system was used to identify and control undesirable events—such as influxes, losses, ballooning, or all of the above—even when there was no longer a visible operational drilling window available (judging from the pore pressure, collapse pressure, and fracture pressure). Using the automatic MPD system enabled the driller to exercise precise control over bottomhole pressure (BHP) during the entire drilling process, to locate the perfect balance point, to minimize fluid losses and potential influxes, and to drastically reduce NPT.