Unsung Attributes of Managed Pressure Drilling Technology that Qualify its Need for Every Producer Well to Be Drilled Mitigating Major Hazards

Abstract

The Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) technology had been widely utilized when there is a narrow PP-FG window. This paper summarizes the fact that it's all about MPD awareness and increased knowledge of the system that will mitigate not only the drilling hazards but shall also aid in improving the overall efficiency in drilling operations, saving both cost and time.

MPD primarily helps operators drilling through narrow pore pressure - fracture gradient windows, thus minimizing the hazards of well control complications like high pressure influxes or mud losses and the same time mitigating the differential stuck tendency due to the extra over balance. Both of these are prime MPD applications where a corrective approach is utilized when the well has encountered influx or losses situation and all conventional options are exhausted. It has been seen that mostly these two aspects are the driving factors to select the well candidates for MPD during planning phase. Although, without any doubt these are major decisive factors for any well to be an MPD candidate, there are a lot of other factors that add value to the overall drilling process when using MPD technology. These factors include: i)- Precise Drilling window determination, prior to start drilling ii)-Using lighter mud weight iii)- Early kick-loss detection system iv)- Improved well control, v)- Handling mud cut without interrupting drilling, vi)- Improved Bore hole stability and ballooning, vii)- Higher pump-rates, viii)- Efficient Tripping in or out of well ix)- Liner trip and cementing, x)- Added safety factor This paper summarizes the stats of all these value added benefits in a 26 well campaign field.

This case study highlights unsung attributes of MPD that adds value to the overall drilling process, clearly aiding in mitigating several hazards that would lead to the complicated well control situations resulting in significant non productive time, NPT and well abandonments. MPD had been used in the region to avoid drilling hazards, but we believed it offered more benefits. We analyzed a bunch of wells and found out that there was definite improvement in the drilling efficiency. The case study includes 26 wells in a challenging formation bearing unpredictable and inconsistent high pressures and 10 gas bearing extended horizontal wells with hard target formations. This publication summarizes all MPD attributes with statistical information that contributed to the success of the operations. Emphasis is on highlighting the factors which are usually taken for granted along with MPD main objectives. These benefits are highlighted for future pre-operational planning of well feasibility studies to improve the overall operational efficiency and the possibility of MPD applications other than just narrow window navigation.

Managed pressure drilling optimizes the complete drilling and post drilling process and mitigates drilling hazards. It allows timesaving, reduction of mud costs and drilling un-drillable wells while optimizing overall process. Experience while drilling through the campaign field has proven that using MPD helps to optimize the drilling process and reduce associated costs to well control, lost circulation, stuck pipe and ballooning events.

The paper implies that considering all these unsung attributes of MPD, each well should be evaluated for MPD technology during the planning phase to minimize the aforementioned drilling hazards than applying corrective actions. Mud weight, BHA design, drilling parameters and casing design can also be tailored accordingly to suit MPD operations, and enhancing overall drilling and completion processes. The paper emphasizes that MPD has been considered in the planning phase due to the narrow PP-FG window criteria, but there is a lot more added value that directly improve the overall drilling efficiency.