Underbalanced & Managed Pressure Drilling

By
Tim Tønnessen
Europe Eurasia Regional Manager
GeoBalanceTM
Presentation Overview
Î Introduction & Definitions
Î UBD & MPD Differences
Î UBD / MPD Technology Drivers
Î General Range of Services & Equipment (MPD/UBD)
Î Rig up Schematics Manual and Automated MPD
Î Projects to Date in Norway
Î Challenges in Implementation
Î Current Technology Drive
Î Discussion/Questions
Definition of MPD (IADC)

“An adaptive drilling process used to

precisely control the annular pressure
profile throughout the wellbore.
The objectives are to ascertain the down hole
pressure environment limits and to manage
the annular hydraulic pressure profile
accordingly”.
 UBD VS MPD What’s the Difference?
Î Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD)
• This is a drilling process where a surface choke and
rotating control device or similar is used to
control bottom hole pressure
• Normally drilling at or above formation pressure,
without any influx from the formation

Î Underbalanced Drilling (UBD)

• Similar to above, but requires more equipment
including separation unit allowing drilling while
having a controlled production from the well,
achieved using a lighter drilling fluid column
combined with surface backpressure control
Common Drivers for MPD
Î Solve drilling related problems such as lost
circulation
•Depleted reservoirs,
•Abnormally pressured formations
•Unstable formations
Î Increased safety
•Early influx detection / Improved well control 0,00

100,00

200,00

Î Cost efficient
300,00

400,00

500,00

600,00

•Quick change of downhole pressure without any 700,00

800,00

900,00

changes to mud system

1000,00

1100,00

1200,00

1300,00

1400,00

•Increased ROP 1500,00

1600,00

1700,00

1800,00

•Potential decreased formation damage 1900,00

2000,00

2100,00

2200,00
0,70 0,80 0,90 1,00 1,10 1,20 1,30 1,40 1,50 1,60 1,70 1,80 1,90 2,00 2,10
 Technique “Manages” wellbore differentials
•Reduce - Washouts, Breakout, Drilling Induced Fractures, Lost Circulation
•Improve - Logging Conditions, Casing Runs, Cement Jobs, Productivity
Common Drivers for Underbalanced Drilling
Maximize Hydrocarbon Recovery
¾Reduced Formation Damage (Skin)
Increase productivity and ultimate recovery
Elimination of Reservoir Stimulation
¾Early Reservoir Evaluation
¾Early Production – Increase Revenue

Reduced Hole Problems Less focus for the

¾No Differential Sticking
Norwegian sector at
¾Minimize Lost Circulation
the moment
¾Increase Penetration Rate
General MPD/UBD range of services
Example General MPD Layout
Advanced MPD System Overview
Norway UBD/MPD Projects
Recent Î Gullfaks UBO/MPD (SH)
Î Grane MPD (SH)
Î Kristin MPD (SH development)
Î Kvitebjørn MPD (SH)
Past
Î Tommeliten (Cop)
Î Ula(BPA)
Î Valhall (BPA)
Potential/Study Î Njord,Norne, Ekofisk, Oseberg,
Gyda, Huldra, and more
Gullfaks UBD/MPD Project
Î Start-up using UBD equipment in 2004
Î Drilled 3 MPD/UBD wells to date
Î 12.1/4”, 8.1/2” and 6” sections
Î The first MPD project where a liner was
run and cemented utilizing controlled
backpressure and modelling same
Î No release of Hydrocarbons to the
environment – Full platform tie in
Î New automated MPD equipment built
for the next well in Jan 2009
Gullfaks rig up for automated MPD
Grane MPD Project
Î Drilled first MPD well in 2007
Î Reservoir challenges:
•Unstable shale sections
•Lost circulation
Î Currently project on hold until closer
evauation of shale stability has been W E
determined Upper Lista shales Injected gas

Heimdal reservoir sands Oil

zone
Perched
Water zone water basin

Lower Lista shales

 Statoil Kristin MPD Project
Î Rapid depletion of reservoir
Î Qualify MPD technology for safe
use on a floater
Î First pilot well potentially in
2010
Î Joint development project with
SH for developing riser solution
allowing safe and efficient MPD
from floater
Challenges Implementing MPD in Norway
Î Lack of knowledge to the technology
Î Comfort factor (Experience level)
Î Establish confidence that “removal” of conventional
drilling primary well control barrier element (Mud
weight) would not result in reduced safety
Î Prove that RCD and Choke technology is dependable
for extended drilling operations
Î ATEX and NORSOK Equipment requirements – High
cost to design/build vs Global
Î Continuous work scope to be present
Drivers for Increased Use of MPD in Norway
Î Depletion of existing fields and more challenging new projects are
natural drivers for increased use of MPD – “Limited other options”
Î Evaluate MPD option when doing platform upgrades & new builds
Î Need to increase business “comfort factor”
Personnel competency & knowledge
Equipment robustness and accuracy
Success Stories – Need to drill more MPD wells
Full scale local onshore testing capability (IRIS)
Î Minimize need for specialist personnel offshore through RTO
centers and automation
Current Technology Drive
Î Fullyautomated control systems with true
predictive capability

Î Combined MPD/Casing drilling

Î Wired Drill Pipe – high speed data transfer – faster

more accurate MPD control options

Î New generation MPD riser & RCD systems for

floaters

Î Increased capacities of systems and smaller

footprints

Î Plug & play systems (Less Personnel)

Î RCD optimalisation & Robustness

Î Downhole trip valve & chemical plug solutions

Thank You!

Questions?