TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractA prevailing challenge in today's deepwater drilling arena is to have a reliable and cost-effective system able to simultaneously drill and enlarge a borehole for accommodating multiple casing string programs. This paper presents an innovative practice that advances hole enlargement capabilities and offers a cost-effective solution to wellbore enlargement in deepwater wellbores. The key component is the concentric reamer that is compatible with all rotary steerable and directional drilling systems. The design of this concentric reamer addresses known technical challenges and minimizes performance risks associated with using hole enlarging devices. This paper profiles the development and testing, from concept to field-proofing, of a new tool for deepwater Gulf of Mexico applications in various lithologies and drilling scenarios.
fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractThe success of deepwater exploration and development operations is greatly dependent on utilizing larger OD casing to reach the ever-increasing depths of today's prospects. Recently in the Mississippi Canyon region of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico's deepwater arena, a leading exploration company utilized new hole enlargement technology to simultaneously drill and enlarge a wellbore to facilitate the installation of a multiple string casing program.A case study is detailed to illustrate how proper planning and the utilization of new hole enlargement technology matched with a rotary steerable system, culminated in the successful execution of this critical well construction operation. As part of the planning process, hydraulics analyses and BHA stabilization optimizations using special computer software are discussed. The application of a new design concentric reamer in a deepwater tight clearance casing program that enlarged more than 18,000 ft of four differentsized wellbore intervals will be presented.
TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-S43S. AbstractHistorically, the applications of window milling tools and methods were limited to remedial operations. The main bore would be sidetracked only in the event of irretrievable fish, collapsed casing, depleted reservoir, etc.
Innovative materials technology advances sidetracking capabilities and offers a cost-effective approach to creating multiple laterals from the same mother bore. The key component to this sidetracking system is a mill designed with polycrystalline diamond (PCD) inserts. Current technology dictates that sidetrack milling be performed with mills dressed with crushed or pre-formed tungsten carbide that is manually applied. Regardless of technology, the success of the sidetrack is dependent upon on the skill and experience of the welder to properly dress the mill. The PCD mill eliminates the dressing process and the related performance uncertainties. This paper discusses how PCD cutters, which are commonly used in drilling, were modified and applied to a casing-sidetracking mnill. The mill design capitalizes on their ability to effectively and swiftly cut a window in the casing and drill a rat hole in formations with compressive strengths of up to 40,000 psi. The benefits of such a mill are:using the same cutting element for both steel and hard formations,substantial cost savings when constructing multiple laterals from the same mother bore,increased consistency in mill manufacture,reliable milling performance andimproved efficiency in the sidetracking operation. This paper profiles the development and testing from concept to a field-proven tool. The paper details:laboratory-milling tests that identify the best material for cutting steels,Oklahoma field tests in 9–5/8 in. casing to verify the feasibility of PCD casing milling and formation drilling,West Texas and Colombia field runs in operators' 7 and 9–5/8 in. casing to mill a window and drill hard formations. Additionally, the paper will elaborate on the future potential of integrating this technology to a directional drilling assembly to drill laterals with the same equipment and preferably in the same trip for short laterals. Introduction The individual performance of mills used to cut a casing window and sidetracking a well can differ widely. This is due to varying downhole conditions, operating parameters and applications.1 Properly managed quality and process controls, instituted for the manufacturing of milling tools, are essential for consistent performance. Current technology dictates that casing sidetracking mills are dressed with crushed tungsten carbide and/or pre-formed tungsten carbide. It is this cutter dressing that is the cutting structure responsible for removing steel and formation. The dressing must be able to withstand the diverse grades and weights of casing and the varying hardness and abrasiveness of the rat hole formations. The dressing process requirements for successful manual application of the crushed and pre-formed tungsten carbide are very demanding. The quality of the process is dependent upon the skill of the applicator or welder. The consistency of the application is paramount to the success of the mill. Sidetracking mills must adhere to critical design criteria. For this reason, elimination of the often difficult and usually inconsistent dressing process and potential performance uncertainties is preferred. Sidetracking Synergy In light of the irregularities that have been associated with conventional sidetracking mills, the concept of using PCD inserts in place of conventional cutting structures for casing sidetracking was developed. Utilizing PCD inserts as the cutting structure could potentially increase consistency in product manufacturing and performance. The cylindrical PCD cutting elements would be precisely placed in the cutting structure of the PCD Mills. The PCD Mill could deliver a much more reliable milling performance and overall improved efficiency in the sidetracking operation, because it would no longer have to rely on the labor-intensive process of correctly or specifically applying crushed and/or pre-formed tungsten carbide.
TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractSidetracking mills designed with PDC insert cutting structures were able to effectively mill a casing window and drill the required lateral in one trip. This new application of advanced PDC technology in Fruitland Formation coalbed methane gas wells provides cost and timesaving benefits. This progressive effort by the operator to improve efficiency and to optimize the recompletion procedures for San Juan Basin wells is furthering exploitation of hydrocarbon reservoirs. This paper discusses how mills designed with PDC inserts swiftly cut steel and drill formation to produce a lateral well bore from the mother bore. The technique reduces the number of trips, equipment, costs, and time required to recomplete the well. The operator is able to minimize loss of production on a downed well by getting the well back on-line sooner.Three case histories are presented that illustrate how this new technology and technique were first applied in the San Juan Basin and further developed through their utilization to recomplete coalbed methane gas wells.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.