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Managed Pressure Drilling

Technical Report · November 2014

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 MSc Petroleum Engineering
Drilling Engineering and Well Completion

CBE4015-N-CF1-2014

Academic year: 2014/15

Assignment-1

Submitted

By

Muhammad Muhammad

N3298979

16 NOVEMBER, 2014
1
 TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page - - - - - - - - - - -1

Table of contents - - - - - - - - - -2

List of figures and tables - - - - - - - - -3

Glossary - - - - - - - - - - -4

Chapter One

1.1 Introduction - - - - - - - - - -5

Chapter Two

2.1 How MPD works - - - - - - - - - -6

2.2 Common MPD Techniques - - - - - - - -8

2.2.1: HSE MPD Technique - - - - - - - - -8

2.2.2: Constant Bottomhole Pressure MPD - - - - - - -9

2.2.3: Pressurized Mud Cap Drilling MPD - - - - - - -9

2.2.4: Dual gradient - - - - - - - - - -11

2.3.1: Advantages of MPD techniques - - - - - - -13

2.3.2: Disadvantages of MPD techniques - - - - - - -13

2.4: Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) issues - - - - - -13

2.5.1: Limitations of MPD - - - - - - - - -14

2.5.2: Cost of MPD - - - - - - - - - -14

2.6: Impact of using MPD on reservoir performance - - - - - -16

Chapter Three

3.1: Conclusion - - - - - - - - - -16

Reference

2
 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: MPD as more productive drilling technique - - - - -5

Figure 2: Annular preventer - - - - - - - - -6

Figure 3: the automate choke for controlling the annulus pressure - - - -6

Figure 4: Degasser - - - - - - - - - -7

Figure 5: complete MPD technique layout - - - - - - -7

Figure 6: CBHP Managed Pressure Drilling Versus BHP profile during connections -9

Figure 7: Illustration Of PMCD - - - - - - - -10

Figure 8: Shows PMCD Profile - - - - - - - -10

Figure 9: Dual gradient drilling floe schematic - - - - - -11

Figure 10: conventional single-gradient versus dual-gradient concept - - -12

Figure 11: Risk management in MPD operations - - - - - -14

Figure 12: Impact of trouble time - - - - - - - -15

Figure 13: Cost implication of NPT - - - - - - - -15

LIST OF TABLE

Table 1: Summary of variations, methods, and possible places of application of MPD -12

3
GLOSSARY

BOP Blow out preventer

CBHP Constant bottom hole pressure

DG Dual gradient

ECD Equivalent circulating density

ERD Extended Reach Drilling

FMCD Floating mud cap drilling

H2S Hydrogen Sulphide Gas

HAZID Hazard identification study

HAZOP Hazard operability study

HPHT High Pressure High Temperature

HSE Health, Safety and Environment

LCD Lost Circulation Material

MPD Managed Pressure Drilling

PMCD Pressurized Mud Cap Drilling

RCD Rotating Control Device

RFC Returns Flow Control

TD Total Depth

WBP Wellbore Pressure

4
 CHAPTER ONE

1.1 Introduction

Managed pressure drilling (MPD) commonly known as integrated method of primarily

control of well with limited pressurizable fluid system in order to provide more and
greater control wellbore pressure (WBP) profile precisely than to adjust the rate of mud
pump and mud weight alone.

It is a special drilling system developed to overcome the excessive costs of non-

productive time as a result of near vicinity within the fracture and pore pressures in both
onshore and offshore drilling. MPD can be expressed generally as a techniques for
management of wellbore pressure. This techniques along with developed equipment has
broad to constraint well kick, lost mud circulation, degree of difference pressure sticking
and to bring reduction in addition of casings string needed to get the total depth. MPD
eases the difficulties of great losses related in drilling fractured zone and karstic
reservoir. Therefore, before using MPD in the field for any project, process of selection
of candidate must be carried out. The main objectives of MPD were it capability in
removing high pressure pocket or bleed it off, indicate zone that has high pressure and to
improve drilling operations safety.

Fig 1: MPD as more productive drilling technique that makes problems disappear
(Hannegan, 2007).

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 CHAPTER TWO

2.1 How MPD works.

MPD techniques is associated with rotating control devices. This equipment (RCD) has a
rubber component known as annular preventer, that is used to prevent the exposed of
drilling fluid in the annulus to the surface. Due to the rotation of RCD, pressure can be
exerted during drilling with choke system MPD. By adjusting MPD choke setting, it`s
allows to maintained bottom hole pressure during drilling operation and connections.
Using backpressure to control BHP to prevent the occurrence of underbalance pressure
that is near the pore space pressure. If drilling ceases, MPD choke able to bring
backpressure instead of increasing the drilling fluid densities. Additionally, the
backpressure is used in static situation and dynamic situation (Chopty and Sardo 2011).

Fig 2: Annular preventer (https://www.onepetro.org/download/conference-paper/OMC-

2011-079?id=conference-paper%2FOMC-2011-079)

Fig 3: the automate choke for controlling annulus pressure (Chopty and Sardo 2011).

6
 Another component of MPD technique is the degasser shown in figure: 4, the main
function of this component is to eliminate the total gas in the well fluids at the period
of displacement of the kick.

Fig 4: Degasser (https://www.onepetro.org/download/conference-paper/OMC-2011-

079?id=conference-paper%2FOMC-2011-079).

Fig 5: Complete MPD technique layout (Chopty and Sardo 2011).

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2.2 Common MPD Techniques
MPD has divided into two major groups:
I. Reactive MPD
II. Proactive MPD.
The reactive ones involves conventional window drilling, fluid system and casing
instillation point, the system is set with rotating control device, automate choke and
floating drill string. It’s minimised the difference between pore space pressure and
fracture pressure.
While the proactive MPD is applied at first step of project design plan to have the
ability to manage wellbore pressure profile throughout the project, casing design,
fluids system, to be able to designed the open-hole units for reducing cost and
increase performance (Grayson, 2009).

2.2.1: HSE MPD Technique

This technique of MPD allow closed system to attained the health, safety, and
environmental rules and regulations.it is used in pressurizable and closed system by
operating RCD, safely automate drilling choke device which deviate the rig surface
and operators from getting contact with drilling fluid (Grayson, 2009).

Objectives of using this technique.

 Able to drill closed annulus with revert structure against drilling that is open to the
atmosphere or billnipple.
 Allow the use of drilling fluids that are safely.
 Reduced the spread of gases that are toxic in caustic drilling fluid e.g H2S and CO2
 Reduced the effect of shallow gas and water influx
 It clean pipes and rig surface at tripping period.
 Reduced environmental exposure to both drilling and reservoir fluids.

8
2.2.2: Constant Bottomhole Pressure MPD

CBHP technique is generally encompassed when kick loss situations observed in

offset wells and drilling in unknown formation that causes well control problem.
Constant Bottomhole Pressure can be maintain or achieved through using the
relationship amongst annular backpressure against rig pump, with RCD and
enthusiastic automate drilling choke (Grayson, 2009).

The CBHP technique of MPD used to determine the bottomhole pressure and can be
expressed from the figure: 6 below.

BHP = Hydrostatic mud weight + AFP + backpressure

Fig 6: CBHP Managed Pressure Drilling Versus BHP profile during connections (Grayson,
2009)

2.2.3: Pressurized Mud Cap Drilling MPD

PMCD technique consist of drilling by sacrificial fluid without return to the surface as
shown in the figure 7. Mud cap with low viscous fluid will be inject through the
annulus by maintaining the RCD and dedicated automate choke.

9
Fig 7: Illustration Of PMCD (Grayson, 2009).

Fig 8: Shows PMCD Profile

10
2.2.4: Dual gradient

The Dual gradient technique is basically developed overcome the problem of up-hole
pressure control. This can be achieved by equivalent circilating density management
in offshore drilling specifically in deepwater.there are two methods that are applied in
DGD, pump and dump method and riserless muds return. These methods are both
encomposses in drilling the top hole section of deepwater marine wells (Breyholtz, et
al. 2009). In the figure:10 below, pressure in the shallow part of the well is reduces by
seafloor pump. The BHP required to maintain the the pore pressure of the formation is
achieves by using denser mud lower the seafloor, and seawater hydrostatic pressure
imposed above the seafloor.

Fig 9: Dual gradient drilling floe schematic (Breyholtz, et al. 2009).

11
 Fig 10: conventional single-gradient versus dual-gradient concept (Cohen, et. al,
2008).

Table 1: Below gives a summaried of the variations, methods, and possible places of
application of MPD. (Nauduri and Medley, 2008)

12
2.3.1: Advantages of MPD techniques

 Reduction in total well construction times

 Improves assets recoverable.
 Prevent lost circulation well kick system.
 Reduction in casing string number and subsequent hole size.
 Limit NPT due to struck pipe differences.
 Reduce damage to reservoir.
 Mud costs is reduced significantly.

2.3.2: Disadvantages of MPD techniques

 No samples or logs obtain in MPD techniques which is vital for geologist.

 Problems of how to remove out drilling strings in the hole with total losses after
reaching the total depth or intermediate trips.
 Large volume of drilling fluid is used in PMCD technique.
 Operations procedures is very complicated.

2.4: Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) issues

There are two methods in identifying hazards in MPD techniques which are HAZID
and HAZOP. Risk assessment must done during operation along with rig crew and
operator supervision, and all rig safety equipment must be uncompromised. Pressure
testing, how to initiate MPD operations, series of events understanding, rig up
discussion and all the procedures aspects of operation will aid to ensure maximum
success in MPD techniques operations. It can minimize the risk casing shoe breakage
and MAASP with MPD. Summarised HSE issues under risk management is given in
figure: 11 below.

13
 Fig 11: Risk management in MPD operations
(http://www.spe.org/dl/docs/2012/qutob.pdf)

2.5.1: Limitations of MPD

 Limited space avoid using specific MPD equipment and downsize them.
 Difficulties in control of pump ramp speed and movement of the pipe when
connection.
 Sacrificial fluid must be available or reserve in large quantity.
 MPD operations involve specialized and trained operators.
 Surplus in regulatory requirements, logistic, reparation and planning.
 Two or more techniques must be applied to meet some situation.

2.5.2: Cost of MPD

This is the economic evaluation of total estimate costs and time association in MPD
methods application, to evaluate the benefit in using MPD techniques. This includes
estimate of MPD operator, costs of equipment and personnel, staffs training costs and
time duration regarding task increment during the project due MPD application
changes. In the figure below, shows evaluation of gas wells drilled in 7680 days and
22% of the drill days lost to NPT. Average dry hole cost per foot is $444.

14
Fig 12: Impact of trouble time

Fig 13: Cost implication of NPT

15
2.6: Impact of using MPD on reservoir performance

MPD techniques developed to access reservoirs which could not be drill using
convectional system. Using MPD, many partially or depleted oil and/or gas reservoir
were drilled successfully after found too tight to drilled by convectional system. Other
reservoir challenges that can be solve by MPD are depleted reservoir with low
pressure, fractured carbonates and some reservoir with a narrow margin along
fracture and pore pressures.

CHAPTER THREE

3.1: Conclusion

Managed pressure drilling developed to control the annular pressure during

operational window in order to prevent problems. It is applied for safety measure and
efficiently to address the issues of downhole. There is no returns to rig surface, in
order to avoid any gas from spilling onto the rig floor such as H2S and CO2. It
minimize the BOP potential for hydrocarbon liberate on drilling floor, and permits
moving pipe along with removing influx that are circulating before using gas cut mud.
MPD provides many chance for drilling prospects advancement which considered to
be economically infeasible in the past.

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REFERENCE

'APPENDIX E - IADC Underbalanced and Managed Pressure Drilling Guidelines—HSE

Planning Guidelines'(2008) , in Rehm, B., Schubert, J., Haghshenas, A., Paknejad, A.S. and
Hughes, J. (eds.) Managed Pressure Drilling. Gulf Publishing Company, pp. 309-347.

Ashena, R. and Moghadasi, J. (2011) 'Bottom hole pressure estimation using evolved neural
networks by real coded ant colony optimization and genetic algorithm', Journal of Petroleum
Science and Engineering, 77(3–4), pp. 375-385.

Chopty, J. and Sardo, A. (2011) 'Managed Pressure Drilling As A Tool To Reduce Risks And
Non-Productive Time: An Update On Field Experience ', Ravenna, Italy, 23-25 March.
Offshore Mediterranean Conference, pp. 1-15.

Cohen, J., Stave, R., Schubert, J. and Elieff, B. (2008) 'CHAPTER EIGHT - Dual-Gradient
Drilling', in Rehm, B., Schubert, J., Haghshenas, A., Paknejad, A.S. and Hughes, J. (eds.)
Managed Pressure Drilling. Gulf Publishing Company, pp. 181-226.

Goodwin, B., Nauduri, S. and Medley, G. (2014) 'MudCap Drilling: New Variations, Drivers,
Limitations, and Lessons Learned---Case Histories', Madrid, Spain, 8-9 April. Society of
Petroleum Engineers, pp. 2-4.

Grayson, M.B. (2009) 'Increased Operational Safety and Efficiency With Managed-Pressure
Drilling', San Antonio, Texas, 23-25 March. San Antonio, Texas: Society of Petroleum
Engineers, pp. 1-12.

Haghshenas, A., Paknejad, A.S., Rehm, B. and Schubert, J. (2008) 'CHAPTER ONE: The
Why and Basic Principles of Managed Well-Bore Pressure', in 'CHAPTER ONE: The Why
and Basic Principles of Managed Well-Bore Pressure' Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC
/ Gulf Publishing Company, pp. 1-38.

'IADC Well Classification System for Underbalanced Operations and Managed Pressure
Drilling', (2008) Managed Pressure Drilling, pp. 305-308.

17
 Kulikov, S., Veliev, G., Chumachenko, A., and Shilkin, P. (2014) 'Managed Pressure Drilling
Advances Well Construction with Enhanced Hazard Mitigation', Moscow, Russia, 14-16
October. Society of Petroleum Engineers, pp. 1-11.

Moore, D. (2012) 'CHAPTER 7 - Mud Cap Drilling in Fractured Formations', in Rehm, B.,
Haghshenas, A., Paknejad, A., Al-Yami, A., Hughes, J. and Schubert, J. (eds.)
Underbalanced Drilling: Limits and Extremes. Gulf Publishing Company, pp. 371-397.

Nauduri, S. and Medley, G. (2008) 'CHAPTER TEN: MPD Candidate Selection', in

'CHAPTER TEN: MPD Candidate Selection' Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC / Gulf
Publishing Company, pp. 261-284.

Parker, M., Wielenga, J., Bochkarev, V., Poletzky, I., Juskiw, M. and Saeed, S. (2014)
'Planning managed pressure drilling with two-phase fluid in a depleted reservoir', Society of
Petroleum Engineers - SPE/IADC Managed Pressure Drilling and Underbalanced
Operations Conference and Exhibition 2014. , pp. 25-36.

Rehm, B. (2008) 'CHAPTER NINE: Equipment Common to MPD Operations', in

'CHAPTER NINE: Equipment Common to MPD Operations' Euromoney Institutional
Investor PLC / Gulf Publishing Company, pp. 227-259.

Sridharan, P. A., Fadzli, M., Wuest, C. H., Bin Musa, M. Z., Nesan, T. P., Bin Omar, M., …
Toralde, J. S. S (2013) 'Managed Pressure Drilling With Solids-Free Drilling Fluid Provides
Cost-Efficient Drilling Solution for Subsea Carbonate Gas Development Wells', San Antonio,
Texas, USA, 17-18 April. Society of Petroleum Engineers, pp. 1-9.

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