Introduction to Underbalanced Drilling Technology
(M2)
Wellsite UBD Equipment
Nitrogen
UB operators
Geology
Separator Rotating Head Camp
Mud Treatment
UB DRILLING - JOBS
1997 Underbalanced Drilling Jobs Geographic Distribution
Canada
M iddle East US Far East Europe South America
1998 Spears & Assoc.
UBD - Types
Normally Pressured Reservoirs
Applications for normal to above normal pressured reservoirs utilizing fluid systems in a controlled flow (mudcap) drilling technique. Depleted Reservoirs Where a multi-phase circulating fluid is necessary to achieve required Bottom Hole Circulating Pressure (BHCP) underbalanced or with minimal overbalance.
Barriers to UB Drilling
REGULATORY BARRIERS to UnderBalance Drilling
The
regulators need assurance and details
BARRIERS TO UB D&C
Regulatory
Lack
of Standards Lack of knowledge Little statistical history Concern about well control Environmental questions
OPERATORS BARRIERS
The
Operator needs experience and confidence.
OPERATORS PROBLEMS
Unfamiliar
risk
with the system
of the new
Lack
of experienced people Economics - Too expensive Concern- liability Concern- well bore stability
REASONS FOR UB GROWTH
There
are driving economic reasons
REASONS FOR UB GROWTH
Depleted
reservoirs Awareness of skin damage Limits of lost circulation matl. Cost of differential sticking
REASONS FOR UB GROWTH
Service
co. competition Trade journal publications Horizontal drilling Consultants available
TECHNICAL IMPROVEMENTS
We
were not ready to put all of this together until the 1990s
TECHNICAL IMPROVEMENTS
Compressor
Evolution Hammer drills Nitrogen
Increased
availability Reduced cost On site generation
TECHNICAL IMPROVEMENTS
Recyclable
foam systems Better gas separators Closed loop circulation Hydraulics models Improved rotating heads Wire line wet connect
TECHNICAL IMPROVEMENTS
Improved
MWD Rig assist snubbing units Coiled tubing equipment Non-damaging drilling fluids Top drive
WORKING ON
Well
Control Concepts Deployment valves Casing Drilling Expandable casing Expandable sand screens Retractable bit
COMPLETION TECHNIQUES
Improved
gravel packing fluids Improved completion fluids General technique improvement
Reasons for UB drilling
Lost
circulation
Reasons for UB drilling
Lost
circulation Faster Drilling
Reasons for UB drilling
Lost
circulation Faster Drilling No Differential Sticking
Reasons for UB drilling
...
Reduce
Reservoir Damage
Reasons for UB drilling
...
Reduce
Reservoir Damage Improve Prod. Evaluation
Effect of Skin on Production Rates
BOPD
1,000 800
600
400
200
0 -3 -2 -1 0 5 10 15
SKIN
Physical Limitation to UBD
Borehole Instability
Unconsolidated Sands Weak Formations Geopressured Shales Salt Beds Inadequate Casing
UBD is another tool in the toolbox, not a Panacea.
Production Limits to UBD
Permeability
is so low the zone needs to be fraced. Zones must be isolated
Types of Flow Regimes
LIQUID
AERATED LIQUID
FOAM
MIST
GAS
Fluid Phase Continuity
AIR/GAS
WATER
FOAM (0-97% AIR)
MIST (97-100% AIR)
Generalized Fluid Systems
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
Equipment - Rotating Head
Shaffer Rotating Blow-Out Preventor 2,500 psi rotating - 5,000 psi static
Closed Loop Circulation System
FLARESTACK SEPARATOR SAMPLE CATCHERS OIL TANKS TOP DRIVE SYSTEM R-BOP WATER TANKS RIG MUD TANKS RIG PUMPS RETURN CUTTING
NITROGEN PUMPERS
CHOKE MANIFOLD
N2 / FLUID MIX
Choke Manifold
Equipment - Lots More
To shale shaker ESD Manifold Sample catchers Willis choke Flare Rig Manifold Choke HCR Separator 200 psi vessel Oil storage/transport
Water returned to tanks
Choke Flare pit
AIR DRILLING A brief summary
Air Drilling
Air/Gas drilling (dust) is a technique used in
areas where the formations are Dry i.e., there is no influx of water or liquid hydrocarbons. gas volumes to clean the well with average velocities of over 3,000 ft per minute.
This medium requires significant compressed
Air Drilling Dusting
Air Drilling Benefits
Increased Rate of Penetration Reduced Formation Damage Improves Bit Performance Lost Circulation Control Continuous Drill Stem Test
Air/Dust Drilling Layout
Air Drilling Waited upon Large Portable Compression
Simple and convenient to drill with air inexpensively and anywhere.
Misting
Addition
of 6 to 30 bbl/hr of fluid to the air stream. Clean and lubricates the bit Carries the cuttings to the surface as a mist or more normally in a modified two phase flow.
FOAM DRILLING Basic Comments
TT96-86
42
Foam Drilling
The most versatile of the gas-generated
systems.
Effective operating range from 0.2 to 0.6 s.g. Mixture of gas phase and foaming solution. Foam flow varies with depth in the hole. Adjustable effective BHP. Enhanced lifting and well bore cleaning. A displacing medium, not a propelling medium.
Foam (Heading)
Improved Hole Cleaning
Foam Drilling Benefits
Faster Penetration rate Low Air requirements Low fluid requirements Low Hydrostatic head No damage to formation Continuous Drill Stem test Best for large holes
Mist or Foam Drilling Layout
GASEATED OR AERATED DRILLING
Mist Water Gas Transition Gaseated
Aerated Fluid
Gasification of Primary Drilling Fluid. Initially designed as a technique to lighten
mud to reduce lost circulation. Methods Standpipe injection Jet Sub Parasite String Dual Casing String As an UB fluid, it is easiest to control in small holes.
Parasite String
Small injection string run simultaneously with intermediate casing. Injected gas does not affect bit hydraulics. Injected gas does not effect MWD
Jet Sub
Similar to Parasite String Gas induced thru drill pipe Selective jet sizing dictates
amount of air to be injected
Jets are Similar to Bit Jets
Parallel Casing String (Teichrob)
N2 /air N2 /water N2 /air/water/oil
150 m TVD, 150 m MD
89-mm (3-1/2 in.) Drill Pipe 244.5-mm (9-5/8 in.) Intermidiate Casing
o
177.8-mm (7 in.) Tie Back Liner 724 m MD at 64o inclination 12 m Slotted Joint 159-mm (6-1/4 in.) Hole Diameter
892 m MD at 90 o Inclination 694 m TVD
Foam Cement
o
TD = 1,440 m MD at 90 o Inclination, 696 m TVD
Aerated Fluid Layout
Aerated Drilling Problems
Compressor/N2 Cost
Rotating BOPs Solid/Liquid/Gas Separation
Corrosion Hydraulic Calculations Vibration Cuttings Lifting Fluid Influx Fire/ Explosions Underbalanced Completion
High Torque/ Drag Borehole Stability
MWD Transmission
END OF INTRODUCTION
