What is Managed Pressure Drilling?

Conventional Drilling Managed Pressure Drilling

Circulating Circulating
Pumps Off Pumps Off
Drilling Drilling

Surface Back Surface Back

Pressure Pressure

Hydrostatic Hydrostatic Hydrostatic

Pressure Pressure Pressure
Pressure

Lower

Mud Weight

PP
AFL
AFL
ECD
FP
ECD

2
Explaining Operating Window – Multiphase Case

Maximum ECD (Losses or Fracture Pressure)

Injection Equipment Limits

Returns Equipment Limits

Downhole Tools Limits

Operating
Window Pulse
Hole
Cleaning Transmission
Limits

Minimum ECD (Pore Pressure or Borehole Instability)

4
VENTANA OPERATIVA DE LODO
Durante una perforación convencional
Surface
Pressure =
Atmospheric 1. Static condition (pumps off)
Depth

Pressure Static Pressure

Gradient (ESD)
Dynamic Pressure 2. Dynamic condition (pumps on)
Gradient (ECD)

Pore Fracture
Pressure Gradient

Friction
Losses
Pressure Pressure
6
VENTANA OPERATIVA DE LODO
Durante una perforación convencional

1. Static condition (pumps off)

Depth

Static Pressure
Gradient (ESD)
Dynamic Pressure 2. Dynamic condition (pumps on)
Gradient (ECD)

Pore Fracture
Pressure Gradient

Loss of
circulation!!!!!!

Pressure
7
VENTANA OPERATIVA DE LODO
Solution: Constant BHP MPD – Narrow Mud Weight Window

1. Static condition (pumps off)

Depth

Static Pressure
Gradient (ESD)
Dynamic Pressure 2. Dynamic condition (pumps on)
Gradient (ECD)

Pore Fracture
Pressure Gradient

BHP is constant
at all times Pressure
8
Formations That Lose Circulation
At Low Pressure Gradients
Conventional vs. MPD Approach

1. Water Gradient
Depth

Gradient were
losses are Tried curing the losses
No success
observed
2. Diesel Gradient
Tried curing the losses
No success
Loss
Loss of
of
circulation!!!!!!
circulation!!!!!!
3. Water + Nitrogen
Success

Fracture
Gradient

Pore
Pressure

Pressure