Use of Liner Drilling Technology to Ensure Proper Liner Setting: A Mexico Case Study

Abstract

Historically, wells drilled in the on offshore fields located on the bay of Campeche in Mexico face severe fluid losses and hole instability caused by the drastic lithology changes when drilling the Paleocene formation before entering the BTPKS formation (Breccia). Conventional drilling, even though slow and problematic, has been able to drill the interval in this particular environment. Advances in liner drilling technologies have provided better solutions to the challenges of drilling wells where conventional drilling may not lead to optimal results. Three wells in Mexico used liner drilling technology to drill with a 7-in. liner through the Upper Paleocene, the calcareous body and the Lower Paleocene. The main objective was to isolate the shale/clay body and to enable setting the liner at the top of the BTPKS FM (Breccia), making it possible to drill the next section with sea water. This paper will discuss the three cases where liner drilling was applied. We will cover the planning process, project analysis, operational problems faced and results. Using this technology has made it possible to: manage equivalent circulation density (ECD) to avoid inducing circulation loss; successfully isolate the shale/clay body; drill through the calcareous body; set liner in the Lower Paleocene; successfully cement the liner; and recover the running tool without setbacks.