fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractDrilling in deep water environments, such as the Gulf of Mexico (GoM), presents the potential for a variety of wellbore and operational problems.Wellbore stability, rates-ofpenetration (ROP), hole cleaning, and pressure management are but a few of the key operational parameters affected by the choice of drilling fluid for a given well. Synthetic-base muds (SBM) provide excellent wellbore stability and maximum ROP, particularly in combination with PDC bits. Conversely, management of equivalent circulating density (ECD), pump initiation and surge pressures are more difficult to control with SBM due to the effects of temperature and pressure on rheological properties. The inability to effectively control these drilling parameters can result in catastrophic lost circulation events, which negatively impact operating costs arising from non-productive time (NPT), as well as the high unit cost of the SBM. This paper highlights the development and application of a new constant-rheology synthetic-based mud (CR-SBM), designed to overcome the problems associated with pressure management when using SBM in deepwater operations. Unlike conventional SBM, this new fluid exhibits a "constant rheology" profile under the conditions encountered in deepwater operations. With the fluid's constant rheology profile, downhole surge pressures and ECD are minimized, thus reducing the frequency and severity of lost circulation events. In addition, the CR-SBM has consistently facilitated delivery of hole cleaning and barite suspension objectives in directional wells.The CR-SBM presented in this paper is unique in the sense that the near constant profile of key rheological properties was achieved using organophilic clay and without the use of special emulsifiers. In general, the components of the CR-SBM are the same as conventional SBM. Case histories are presented that demonstrate the degree to which the new CR-SBM increases deepwater operational efficiency by reducing downhole mud losses and non-productive time.
A 1999 SPE/IADC paper (52782) identified and documented solutions to a number of drilling problems encountered in Ultra-deepwater drilling. Since that time the industry has pushed the water depth record beyond 10,000' of water and drilling depths below 32,000'. A number of new problems have occurred in the last 8 years that have been caused by mechanical failures (equipment stressed to its limits) or human error. In the Gulf of Mexico recent drilling has encountered problems drilling salt and tar that the industry had not previously experienced. Three operators active in deepwater GOM have collaborated on this paper to document problems under the assumption that understanding what can go wrong is the best way to avoid problems. Introduction In 1999 the water depth drilling record was 7,520'. There were 56 rigs advertised as being capable of drilling in greater than 5,000' of water1. The water depth record is now 10,011' 2 and there are 74 rigs capable of drilling in greater than 5,000' of water3. In the 1990s there were 148 wells drilled in the Gulf of Mexico in greater than 4,000' of water. By the 2000s (mid 2006) there have been 524 wells drilled in greater than 4,000' of water. The authors' companies have drilled 291 of these wells in the Gulf of Mexico since 2000. The number of wells being drilled in deepwater has increased. The water depth, total depth and complexity of those wells drilled in deepwater GOM has also increased. The depth record is now 34,189' MD4.
TX 75083-3836 U.S.A., fax 1.972.952.9435. AbstractA 1999 SPE/IADC paper (52782) identified and documented solutions to a number of drilling problems encountered in Ultra-deepwater drilling. Since that time the industry has pushed the water depth record beyond 10,000' of water and drilling depths below 32,000'. A number of new problems have occurred in the last 8 years that have been caused by mechanical failures (equipment stressed to its limits) or human error. In the Gulf of Mexico recent drilling has encountered problems drilling salt and tar that the industry had not previously experienced. Three operators active in deepwater GOM have collaborated on this paper to document problems under the assumption that understanding what can go wrong is the best way to avoid problems.
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