Challenges in HPHT Drilling
Submitted by : Shubham Das
Abstract
The oil and gas industry has evolved much
throughout its working, right from the beginning
to this date. It has also brought new technologies
to face the new challenges faced while drilling as
well as production from a well. But what about
the deep wells? Do they possess the same condi-
tion as of the other shallow or less depth wells?
No. In these deep wells the Temperature and
pressure is too high and produces a large number
of challenges for the industry. This kind of drill-
ing is termed as “HPHT Drilling”. This research
paper focuses on some of the various challenges
faced and the technologies used for overcoming
such difficulties.
Introduction
High Pressure and high Temperature wells (1800-
2300 kg/m3 and 1800C—230 oC) which are generally
encountered in deep wells all around the world have
become a common challenge for the oil industry. The
need for specialized drilling fluids and equipments
which can resist excessive bottom hole temperature
and pressure of the wells is increasing in present oil
industry. For evaluation of fluids and other bottom
hole conditions specialized equipments and mechani-
cal devices are needed so as to overcome the high
temperature and high pressure in deep wells. An
HPHT casing simulator can be used to operate log-
ging tools and associated electronics at temperatures
up to 316oC and pressures up to 207 MPa. Flow as-
surance measurements can be made using HPHT
Pressure-Volume-Temperature (PVT) cells which
detect fluid phase changes and bubble points at
conditions upto 250oC and 172 MPa.
Challenges faced specifically in the HPHT conditions
are :
 Formulation of drilling fluid
 Corrosion due to halide base fluid
 Cementing design
Materials & Methods
All around the world the challenges faced by petroleum
engineers when they encounter an HPHT / U-HPHT
well condition are the sensitivity of drilling fluid to-
wards temperature, composing a proper cement which
could be stable in such conditions and most importantly
the corrosive effects of fluids over the numerous equip-
ments in the bottom hole.
While formulating a drilling fluid, which can sustain its
properties in such temperature and pressure certain
things are taken into considerations,
 The Methylene Blue Test (MBT) value is maintained
to be low i.e. less than 10kg/m3. Also the Low Grav-
ity Solids (LGS) content is kept minimum.
 Improvisation of drilled solid tolerance and control
over HPHT rheology can be made by usage of modi-
fied lignite based products.
 Deflocculants such as sulfonated synthetic poly-
mers are used to control HPHT rheology along with
gelation as well.
 Proper quality barite can be used for weighting.
 Calcium content should be maintained along
with an optimized pH and alkalinity
Further the changes that are seen in the proper-
ties of drilling fluids is
 Thermal degradation of organic additives
 The solid and liquid phases change continu-
ously as the depth changes due to variation in
solid content and drilled formations in differ-
ent layers
 Alteration of minerals hydrothermally at in-
creased temperatures
Following these, another challenge faced is the
effect on cement rheology on exposure to high
temperature. High temperature effects to cement
slurry mostly by reducing the slurry thickening
time, which results in setting of cement quicker
than it should have been.
With increasing depth of well the equivalent circu-
lating density (ECD) is expected to increase but
the increase in temperature results in decrease in
the ECD value due to thermal expansion.
The casing also expands and contracts due to vari-
able temperature and this results in formation of
cracks in cement.
The most basic and general cement design used in
HPHT wells which are narrower comparatively is
the composition of cement which contain silica,
weighting solids, fluid loss agents along with re-
tarders and extenders. Presently Portland cement,
Silica-Lime cement and High Alumina cement is
used for HPHT wells.
Due to the high temperature, the thickening time
of the cement decreases. For an normal condition
the thickening time is 3-4 hours. To overcome this
challenge, Retarders are used which gives ample
time for the cement to settle. Even a small change
in the temperature as less as 100F can result in
such a condition. The retarders should be blended
with the cement properly in order to attain accurate
result. For best result a lignosulphate high tempera-
ture retarder or synthetic high temperature retarder is
used. Excess of these additives can also result in longer
time for thickening and might result in entering of gas
or air into it creating voids.
Results
The high temperature and high pressure conditions
possess a great challenge for the oil and gas industry.
Some of the challenges are the specific formulation of
drilling fluid and cement design. Apart from these the
changes which occur in halide base fluids (chemically)
can have corrosive effects on the equipments.
 MBT and LGS value is to be maintained low as an
optimum drilling fluid for high temperature wells.
 Use of Deflocculants to maintain HPHT rheology
and gelation.
 Use of lignosulphate retarders and synthetic re-
tarders has reduced the tendency for formation of
voids and fractures in the cement.
Discussion
Though many of the modern technologies and improvi-
sations have overcame the challenges encountered in
these special conditions of high temperature and high
pressure but still environmental issues put in a re-
striction for the oil and gas industry mostly by their
discharge in seas and water bodies. Cementing materi-
al are classified into groups, according to their compo-
sitions, into A to E. Discharge of A class is limited as
compared to E class being suitable for such discharges.
In some regions, there is insistence towards formula-
tion of biodegradable materials for such purpose.
These environmental friendly improvisations are to be
worked upon.
Conclusion
The new technologies in the oil and gas industry have
overcame most of the challenges that are encountered
in HPHT wells all around the world. But still re-
searches are going on for making drilling fluids and
cementing materials which are environmentally
less harmful i.e. biodegradable.

Acknowledgement
I take this opportunity to express my profound grat-
itude and deep regards to my professor
Dr.Bernadette Lyngdoh for this exemplary guid-
ance given by her time to time. It was really mind
absorbing experience. Also the research lead to ex-
pansion of my knowledge to a greater level and in-
terest at its top.
References
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