Managed Pressure Drilling As A Tool To Reduce Risks And Non-Productive Time: An Update On Field Experience

In times when the oil industry is looking for safe drilling technologies to optimize the development of their oil and gas reservoirs potentially reducing risk, Managed Pressure Drilling has become an attractive technology, offering a considerable amount of tangible benefits. Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) is an optimized drilling process used to more precisely control the annular pressure profile throughout the well bore. The objectives are to ascertain the downhole pressure environment limits and to manage the annular hydraulic pressure profile accordingly. This means that the annular pressure profile is controlled in such a way that Bottom Hole Circulation Pressure (BHCP) is controlled to remain within Pore Pressure and Fracture Gradient boundaries at all times. By utilizing MPD technology, the intent is to avoid continuous influx of formation fluids to the surface. Any flow incidental to the operation will be safely contained using an appropriate process. The MPD process employs a collection of tools and techniques that mitigate the risks and costs associated with drilling wells with narrow limits between the pore pressure and fracture gradient. Specialized equipment is used to enhance kick and loss detection and also to manage the formation influxes / losses without increasing the NPT associated with these types of events compared to conventional drilling. MPD includes control of back pressure, fluid density, fluid rheology, annular fluid level, circulating friction and hole geometry, or combinations thereof. MPD also allows faster corrective action to deal with observed pressure variations. The ability to dynamically control annular pressures facilitates drilling of what might otherwise be economically unattainable prospects. This paper discusses Managed Pressure Drilling technology in well control and its direct impact on the reduction of NPT while increasing overall operational safety