Managed Pressure Drilling Application to Deploy Lower Completion Safely and Efficiently in Static-Underbalanced Well

Conventional open-to-atmosphere mud returns systems present a challenge when attempting to obtain energy resources that have previously been deemed economically or technically impossible to drill due to narrow drilling windows. A narrow drilling window significantly reduces the possibility of drilling to targeted depth effectively and efficiently from cost and safety perspectives. However, it is not always the pore pressure and fracture pressure gradients that define the drilling window, as has been observed in a field in East[MA(1] Java Province, Indonesia. In this instance, the actual drilling window lay between the wellbore instability and mud losses pressure gradients. Having the bottom hole pressure lower than the wellbore instability pressure would risk collapse of the wellbore, resulting in stuck pipe, or worse, a fishing job and requirement to sidetrack the well. Thus, a steady bottom hole pressure within that window was deemed critical to successfully drill to the section target depth. The application of Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) was selected to drill the narrow drilling window and has resulted in being able to successfully drill to the targeted depth without wellbore collapse. Data acquired from system-recorded drilling parameters enabled analysis of the wellbore condition and adjustment of parameters leading to a successful operation. Calculated friction pressure, ECD trend line, flow behavior and most importantly surface back pressure were compared as analysis subjects. The utilization of MPD equipment, including Rotating Control Device (RCD) and Automated MPD Choke Manifold, enables surface back pressure to be applied to create the required bottom hole pressure sufficient to maintain wellbore stability within the narrow drilling window. With real-time results being applied on site, as described further in this paper, drilling hazards related to wellbore instability were significantly minimized, if not completely eliminated.

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Combination of Light Annular-Mud Drilling and Downhole Isolation Valve for Drilling in Fractured Gas Reservoir, A Case Study

Ezer¹,

Pratama²,

Irawan

2017

Day 1 Tue, March 28, 2017

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The South Sumatra Field in Indonesia produces from a high deliverability gas reservoir with the gas rate of each well around 50 to 200 MMSCFD. The primary target is the fractured network present in the Pre- tertiary Granite/Andesite while the secondary target is the Tertiary carbonate. In the past decade, Light Annular Mud Cap Drilling (LAMCD) is one of Manage Pressure Drilling (MPD) methods that has been frequently applied to drill in the surrounding areas of South Sumatra's oil and gas fields. The LAMCD method allows drilling to continue despite experiencing total loss of circulation in the fractured reservoir. Sacrificial fluid, usually fresh water, is injected down into the wellbore through the drill pipe. Viscous fluid with the density slightly lower than the pore pressure is injected intermittently into the annulus. The challenge occurs prior to tripping out where the well needs to be balanced. The killing operation contributes additional cost from the lost circulation materials, additional operation days or non-productive time (NPT) and inflicts damage into the reservoir due to the injected LCM. The downhole isolation valve (DIV) system is integrated into the 9-5/8″ casing string to cope with the challenge. By using this system, the requirement to kill the well while tripping out is eliminated. The successful utilization of LAMCD and DIV is elaborated in this paper as part of the drilling program and the combination of the two principles are applied. This paper focuses on the utilization of LAMCD and DIV in a case study of Drilling Well X which was drilled in the South Sumatra Field.

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Managed Pressure Drilling Application to Deploy Lower Completion Safely and Efficiently in Static-Underbalanced Well

Cited by 6 publications

References 1 publication

Kick detection and remedial action in managed pressure drilling: a review

Kick detection and remedial action in managed pressure drilling: a review

Case Study - Constant Bottom Hole Pressure of Managed-Pressure Drilling Utilization to Maintain Wellbore Instability in East Java Drilling Operation, Indonesia

Combination of Light Annular-Mud Drilling and Downhole Isolation Valve for Drilling in Fractured Gas Reservoir, A Case Study

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