How Much Is Left of Your Centralizer After Exiting a Casing Window in an
Extended-Reach Horizontal Multilateral? Modeling, Yard Tests, and Field Results
From Alaska's West Sak Development

Peterson, Erick; Greener, Micheal; Davis, Eric; Craig, Daniel B.

doi:10.2523/105766-ms

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 4 publications

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“…Several studies have been done with regard to torque and drag [2,3,4] and only limited research has been carried out to estimate the pressure losses when complex geometries are associated with the stand-off devices. When these types of stand-off devices are used swab and surge pressures also need to be considered and must be maintained within narrow limits during tripping, casing running and cementing operations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Annular Pressure Loss Predictions for Various Stand-off Devices

Yao

Samuel

2008

IADC/SPE Drilling Conference

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During drilling and cementing operations, many stand-off devices, such as centralizers, stabilizers, reamers, turbulators, cutting bed impellers, and friction reduction devices are widely used. Some of these devices are designed to enhance the displacement efficiency during cementing operations, to increase hole cleaning efficiency, or to reduce torque and drag during drilling operations. The hydraulics program for the deep and especially ultra deep wells constitutes a significant portion of the well planning. Challenges associated with extreme depth and different types of downhole tools used in the drillstring translate to additional problems to the well design. Few studies have explored the pressure losses arising from these attached devices in the drillstring or casing string, and the pressure losses caused by them are assumed either negligible or ignored. The geometrical designs of these devices are relatively irregular and complicated, which is one of the major difficulties for pressure loss calculations. Non-Newtonian drilling fluids further complicate the problem. A study is necessary to determine the impacts of these devices on the pressure loss calculations and thereby the effects on downhole circulating density. These devices alter the flow stream and especially the angular bladed type cause the flow to swirl. This flow is complex, which underpins the effects of the pressure drop calculation across these devices. The paper describes a method and equations to calculate the pressure losses due to the stand-off devices.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Annular Pressure Loss Predictions for Various Stand-off Devices

Yao

Samuel

2008

IADC/SPE Drilling Conference

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Are You on the Right Track with Casing Milling? Innovative Precision-Milled Windows Offer Improved Casing Exit Reliability for Sidetracking and Multilateral Completions

Ponton

Roberts

Fipke

et al. 2010

IADC/SPE Drilling Conference and Exhibition

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Multilateral wells offer many benefits over conventional wells, including reduced overall drilling costs, lower environmental effect, increased total recovery, greater access to production intervals, and subsequently improved well production rates. However, it can be difficult to achieve a good quality casing window through which an additional lateral branch can be successfully drilled and completed. As bottomhole assemblies (BHAs) become more advanced, involving longer and stiffer strings of tools, and as completion design becomes more intricate, more attention must be given to the way the casing window is created because this is the foundation of multilateral well design. Track-guided milling systems have emerged as effective and accurate methods by which to control casing window geometry, and this paper will focus on recent advances in track-guided, precision window milling technology and its effect on multilateral well design. To avoid potential problems in running drilling assemblies or liner/completion strings, advanced milling technology should be used to create the casing window. During conventional milling, it is commonly difficult to control the action of the mill as it cuts through the casing; poor control creates a casing window that could, as a result of right hand rotation during milling, rolling-off to one side, leading to a skewed or shortened aperture. Uncontrolled and undefined window geometry introduces additional risks when re-entering a lateral wellbore, such as nonproductive time (NPT) and equipment damage. A good quality casing window, with precisely controlled length and width, helps ensure that drilling and completion equipment can exit the aperture without problems and facilitates repeatable re-entry access to both the mainbore and the laterals in future interventions. The quality of the casing window is just as critical in multilateral wells as in conventional sidetracking or whipstock operations. Advances in modern casing milling technology are pioneering improved multilateral well designs. Multilateral wellbore junctions can now be placed in deep, high-angle wells without compromising drilling or completion operations by using a track-guided milling system to create improved casing windows.

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How Much Is Left of Your Centralizer After Exiting a Casing Window in an Extended-Reach Horizontal Multilateral? Modeling, Yard Tests, and Field Results From Alaska's West Sak Development

Cited by 2 publications

References 4 publications

Annular Pressure Loss Predictions for Various Stand-off Devices

Annular Pressure Loss Predictions for Various Stand-off Devices

Are You on the Right Track with Casing Milling? Innovative Precision-Milled Windows Offer Improved Casing Exit Reliability for Sidetracking and Multilateral Completions

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