SPE/IADC 114703

Managed-Pressure Drilling and Downhole Isolation Technologies Deliver

High Rate Gas Wells
Nyoman Dharma, ConocoPhillips, and J.S.S. Toralde, Weatherford

Copyright 2008, SPE/IADC Managed Pressure Drilling and Underbalanced Operations Conference and Exhibition

This paper was prepared for presentation at the 2008 SPE/IADC Managed Pressure Drilling and Underbalanced Operations Conference and Exhibition held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, 28–29 January 2008.

This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE/IADC program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper have not
been reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers or the International Association of Drilling Contractors and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material does not necessarily reflect
any position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers or the International Association of Drilling Contractors, its officers, or members. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this
paper without the written consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers or the International Association of Drilling Contractors is prohibited. Permission to reproduce in print is restricted to an
abstract of not more than 300 words; illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous acknowledgment of SPE/IADC copyright.

Abstract
Pressurized MudCap Drilling (PMCD), a variant of Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD), is known for allowing drilling to
continue despite a total loss of circulation, while at the same time monitoring and controlling the entry of influx into the
wellbore. A weakness of this technique is that the well still has to be killed prior to pulling out of the hole, which can be time-
consuming and ultimately lead to reservoir damage. Utilizing a downhole isolation system to eliminate the need to kill the well
during and after PMCD operations would therefore greatly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of this drilling technique
and enhance its acceptability in operations where well productivity is a major consideration.

A combination of MPD and downhole isolation technologies was recently used successfully to drill a highly prolific, fractured
gas reservoir in Suban Field, South Sumatra, Indonesia, resulting in wells capable of producing in excess of 300 mmscfd.
MPD with downhole isolation allowed drilling to continue even with total loss of circulation, increased the safety margin of
operations, reduced the amount of mud and lost circulation materials (LCM) required, minimized formation damage and made
the running and installation of the completion assembly possible without the need to kill the well. The project demonstrated
the clear and practical advantage that can be gained from combining these two technologies.

This paper focuses on how MPD and downhole isolation technologies were successfully integrated to produce high-rate gas
wells in the Suban field and details how the system was effectively utilized for the first time to produce improvements in the
safety and efficiency of drilling and completion operations, as compared to previous methods used in the area. It will also
present the equipment, set-up, processes and procedures used in integrating these two technologies.

Suban Field Development

The Suban field is located in the ConocoPhillips Indonesia Corridor Block PSC of South Sumatra and has gas-in-place
estimates in excess of 7 TCF. Suban Field was discovered in 1998 and with production starting in December 2002 from
fractured basement rocks as well as overlying clastic and carbonate units. Table 1 shows the basic reservoir properties of this
field, while Figure 1 provides its location.

ConocoPhillips currently operates the development of the field. Partners include Talisman and Pertamina. In 2004
ConocoPhillips recognized the opportunities of utilizing big bore wells for its Suban field development.

Early field production was dominated by two wells with extensive reservoir fracturing. Production potential from the reservoir
was considered excellent and using well test data, it was determined that the fracturing system was well connected and that
large areas of the reservoir could be drained from central locations.

While production rates were relatively high, it was clear that performance from these early completions was less than optimum
and that the 5 ½” production tubing strings were under-sized relative to reservoir flow potential. Poor well flow efficiency
was evidenced by large apparent non-Darcy skin effects seen from multi-point flow tests and pressure buildup tests. Non-
Darcy skin is a term used to characterize a pressure drop near the wellbore that is caused by turbulent flow that increases as a
function of the flow rate. In simple terms, it was apparent that well flow potentials could be much higher, if the non-Darcy
effects could be eliminated or reduced.
2 SPE/IADC 114703

Discussions on how to improve well productivity and deliverability and hence, project economics centered on the following
points, each of which carried new challenges:

• The need to produce less damage to the fractures resulted in the decision to use clear drilling fluids.

• Penetrating more fractures with the wellbore was needed to reduce the non-Darcy flow effects therefore the wells
required specific targeting and deviation as prescribed by the subsurface team fracture characterization effort.

• Larger (9 5/8” big bore”) production tubing strings were needed to reduce the frictional pressure drop up the tubing
string at high production rates thus allowing for higher pressure drawdown at bottom hole conditions

Well flow analysis, based on improvements in well productivity and larger tubing, indicated that the flow potential from
individual wells could be increased from ~75 mmscf/d (with 5 ½” completions) or ~150 mmscf/d (with 7” completions) to
~400+ mmscf/d (with 9 5/8” completions and the well productivity enhancements described above). Under the assumption that
very large areas could be drained by single wells, it was recognized that the total well count required to develop the field and
to meet gas contract commitments could be reduced, thus resulting in large cost savings.

Detailed engineering planning and procurement of equipment was completed 2005 to 2006 with the drilling of Suban #10
starting 1 August 2006.

The well trajectory was planned to intersect a fault that was encountered on the adjacent DM-2 well, particularly in the Batu
Raja Limestone, Durian Mabok Sandstone, and the Pre-Tertiary Granite (see Figure 2), where total losses were encountered
and which subsequently delivered >90% of DM-2 production. The well paths designed for Suban-10 and 11 dictated that
additional major faults were to be crossed, increasing the likelihood that circulation losses would be severe, if not total (see
Figures 3 and 4). ConocoPhillips had previously encountered total losses on wells in adjacent fields where >200,000 bbls of
mud had been lost on individual wells.

To increase the production potential of the new wells, it was planned that reservoir damage be kept to a minimum during
drilling and completion. Improvements therefore had to be made on the drilling and completion practices previously utilized in
Suban. Offset wells to Suban-10 and 11 were drilled with PHPA muds of 12–14 ppg, with circulation losses controlled by
conventional LCM. Completion was normally run after the well was killed using high-density drilling fluids.

The well bores of Suban-10 and Suban-11 were completed with a tapered big-bore corrosion resistant alloy (CRA) completion
(9-5/8” x 7-5/8”), and a blank uncemented tapered liner (7” x 5-1/2”) in the open hole. Additionally, the pipelines to which the
wells would be connected were intended to handle as much as 300 mmscfd from each well.

To enable the drilling of big-bore, high-rate gas wells, Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD), particularly the Pressurized
MudCap Drilling (PMCD) variant was utilized. This operation was enhanced with the use of the Weatherford Downhole
Deployment Valve TM (DDV). The combination of MPD with a DDV system was effectively applied during the drilling
operations and resulted in wells capable of producing in excess of 300 mmscfd. The combined MPD/DDV system allowed
drilling to continue even with total loss of circulation, increased the safety margin of operations, reduced the amount of mud
and lost circulation materials (LCM) required, minimized formation damage and made the running and installation of the
completion assembly possible without the need to kill the well.

Managed Pressure Drilling

MPD is defined by the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) as “an adaptive drilling process used to more
precisely control the annular pressure profile throughout the wellbore.” The objectives of MPD are “to ascertain the downhole
pressure environment limits and to manage the annular hydraulic pressure profile accordingly.”

PMCD, the MPD variant chosen for application in Suban, is a technique that takes advantage of the natural ability of fractured
formations to swallow drilling fluid and the drilled cuttings. Rather than attempting to cure circulation losses, PMCD uses a
viscous mudcap in the annulus to hold the reservoir pressure in balance, while simultaneously pumping sacrificial drilling fluid
down the drill pipe. There are no returns to the surface because the sacrificial fluid and all cuttings are lost into the formation.
The most important feature of this method is that it allows drilling to continue despite severe or total loss of circulation.

PMCD would therefore allow drilling in Suban to proceed through severe loss zones without a significant cost in rig time. The
volume of high-density mud lost to the formation would also be minimized because treated swamp water would be used as
sacrificial drilling fluid. The density of the mudcap is designed to deliver a hydrostatic pressure slightly lower than formation
pressure, rather than being hydrostatically overbalanced. The light annular mud that serves as a mudcap is not immediately lost
SPE/IADC 114703 3

to the formation, but instead floats above the area where severe or total loss of circulation occurs. A small portion of the
mudcap is bullheaded into the formation periodically, when gas from the formation migrates up the annulus. Gas migration is
monitored via changes in the surface pressure. This ability to monitor changing downhole conditions is one of the key features
of the PMCD method.

The use of LCM is also greatly minimized with PMCD. Although minor losses in the Suban-10 and 11 wells were still planned
to be cured conventionally with LCM, when losses reached unmanageable levels, the use of LCM would be stopped and
operations changed to PMCD. Previous practice in the Suban field required progressive increases in the LCM formulation and
concentration until circulation losses were finally stopped. The offset DM-2 well was drilled this way. On DM-2, total losses
were observed for a period of time, but were finally stopped by the use of LCM pills and drilled cuttings. The Suban wells
were expected to be drilled more efficiently using PMCD, with less time lost treating the formation.

During PMCD operations, the formation pressure is kept in balance by low back-pressure held by a rotating control device
(RCD) at surface. With the annulus sealed by the RCD and the choke completely closed, the back-pressure can be monitored
to record any changes in the reservoir pressure or to detect the migration of gas upwards through the annulus fluid. Whenever
annular pressure increases to a certain level due to gas migration, low-density mud is pumped down the annulus to bullhead
the reservoir gas back into the formation. The pressure returning to its original value gives a clear indication that the pressure
rise was due to gas migration and that it has been pushed back into the formation.

A weakness of the PMCD technique is that the well still has to be killed prior to pulling out of the hole for any reason, or at
well total depth. Performing a well kill can be costly in terms of time and mud materials and will lead to reservoir damage.
Large volumes of high-density mud may need to be pumped into the hole before the well is killed and stabilized. Since PMCD
was employed to prevent reservoir damage in the first place, the system had to be improved and augmented to allow for
pulling out of the hole and running the completion without the need to kill the well. A downhole isolation system, specifically
Weatherford’s Downhole Deployment ValveTM (DDV), was therefore considered to achieve this goal.

Downhole Deployment Valve

The Weatherford DDV is a full-bore, flapper-type valve installed within the casing string and used to avoid pipe light
conditions due to annulus pressure. It eliminates the need for snubbing operations, or the need to kill the well in order to trip
the drill string and install completion assemblies during underbalanced and near-balanced operations.

The design of the DDV allows the passage of the drill bit when in the open position. When tripping out of the hole, the string
is tripped out until the bit is above the DDV, which is then closed and the casing annulus pressure above the DDV bled off.
The drill string can then be tripped out of the well without the use of a snubbing unit and at conventional tripping speeds, thus
reducing rig time requirements and providing improved personnel safety. The DDV can also be used to trip in the hole. The
drill string is tripped back into the well until the bit is just above the DDV, the annulus pressure is equalized, the DDV opened
and the drill string run in to continue drilling operations.

The DDV can either be run and cemented in place with the casing, or can be run in retrievable mode within a tie-back
assembly. Once installed, the valve is operated by pressure applied via an armored control line that runs from the valve to the
surface control panel. The DDV comes in two sizes, 7” and 9-5/8”, and in varying weights and pressure rating options. The
DDV has a good record for reliability and 100 separate installations were achieved globally by the time of the Suban project
was underway.

A 9-5/8” 47-lb/ft DDVs was used in Suban. This DDV type has a maximum OD of 12.0 in (305 mm) and a minimum ID of
8.535 in (217 mm). It can withstand a maximum differential pressure of 5,000 psi (345 bar) and a maximum temperature of
300 °F (149 °C). The DDVs in Suban were installed in retrievable mode using a tie-back assembly, marking the first time ever
that a 9-5/8” 47-lb/ft DDV was installed in retrievable mode, although this had been done many times with the 7” DDV. The
9-5/8” 47-lb/ft DDV had previously been used for both UBD and MPD operations on gas wells and were cemented in place.

Suban MPD with DDV System

The unique MPD / DDV system used in Suban is called Dual Annular Pressurized MudCap Drilling (DAPMCD). Unlike other
previous applications of PMCD, the application in Suban involved the use of a secondary (outer) annulus in addition to the
drillpipe-casing annulus normally used during PMCD operations. An overview of the system, as it relates to the combination
of MPD and DDV technologies, is provided below.

The additional equipment used during Suban drilling operations to convert a conventional PMCD set-up into DAPMCD are
listed and defined below:
4 SPE/IADC 114703

• Drilling Tieback (DT) – A 9-5/8” drilling tieback with communication at the base was installed to provide an
additional annulus.
• Downhole Deployment Valve (DDV) was installed in the DT, at the bottom, just above the bullet seal assembly stung
into the liner hanger PBR. This would allow the productive formation to be isolated when tripping and eliminate the
need to kill the well during tripping operations and to overcome pipe-light situations.
• Injection Collar (IC) – A 9-5/8” pup joint with twenty 0.5” holes drilled in a line along one side was used as an
injection collar. This would allow viscous freshwater to be injected into the drillpipe annulus at depth to lighten the
hydrostatic pressure in the drillpipe annulus as and when required. It was installed in the DT, just above the DDV.

Aside from the introduction of the secondary (outer) annulus, another system improvement was the application of more
drilling fluid types of varying densities compared to conventional PMCD. This improvement can be viewed as a consequence
of the extra annulus, since having an additional annulus allows for a greater range and flexibility in the types of drilling fluids
to be used. The different fluid types used in DAPMCD operations, aside from the drilling mud used during conventional
drilling operations, are as follows:

• Light Annular Mud (LAM) is the fluid that was maintained in the annulus during DAPMCD operations. The density
was slightly less than the equivalent pore pressure at the top of the first fracture. LAM was injected into the annulus
while drilling to push migrating gas back into the fractures. LAM weight was planned to be ~0.5 ppg below
equivalent pore pressure, which would result in a surface casing pressure of approximately 100-200 psi.
• Heavy Annular Mud (HAM) is mud heavier than the equivalent pore pressure at the top of the first fracture. HAM
was planned for use while pulling the BHA out of the hole on trips and when a higher annular pressure reduction was
required. Suggested HAM weight was ~4.0 ppg above LAM.
• Sacrificial Drilling Fluid (SDF) is the treated water that was pumped down the drill string during DAPMCD
operations.
• Viscous Sacrificial Drilling Fluid (VSDF) is the viscous treated water that was pumped down the outer annuli during
DAPMCD operations.

Figure 5 provides a diagrammatic representation of the PMCD system with the different fluids and equipment involved in the
technique.

Suban operations used a high-pressure RCD, Weatherford Model 7100 RCD, to exert backpressure on the annulus during
PMCD operations. The equipment is capable of withstanding 2500 psi of pressure in dynamic mode and can go as high as
5000 psi in static mode. The Model 7100 RCD was chosen because, the maximum surface pressure with gas all the way to the
surface was in the range of 3,400-3,500 psi.

Given the pressures provided above, the Suban-10 and 11 wells are classified under the IADC Well Classification System for
UBO and MPD as 4 – C – 5. This basically means that the risk level involved is pegged at Level 4, which denotes that
hydrocarbon-bearing formation is being drilled. It also means that the maximum anticipated shut-in pressure is less than the
UBO/MPD equipment operating pressure rating and that catastrophic equipment failure will likely have immediate serious
consequences. The historical record of the Suban field also supports the fact that drilling will be done in a high pressure and
high flow potential reservoir. “C” in the code means that the application category of the operation is mudcap drilling. IADC
defines category “C” as “drilling with a variable length annular fluid column which is maintained above a formation that is
taking injected fluid and drilled cuttings without returns to surface”. Lastly, “5” in the code stands for the information that the
fluid system used for drilling is of a single liquid phase.

The DAPMCD system for the Suban-10 and 11 wells was set up in stages. The RCD, valves and pipework needed for PMCD
was installed before the 12-1/4” hole section was drilled, and was used while drilling this section to divert the flow of returns.
Prior to drilling the 8-1/2” production interval and after a 9-5/8” production liner was run and cemented, the 9-5/8” drilling
tieback was installed, together with the DDV and injection collar. This completed the DAPMCD set-up. However, DAPMCD
was not used immediately, as the 8-1/2” section was drilled conventionally until fractures/mud losses were encountered. The
decision to start MPD was determined based on the severity of losses encountered and the results of an injectivity test. The
decision flow charts used to determine when to shift to DAPMCD are provided in Figures 6 and 7, one designed in the event
that a downhole motor is used, and another one for when there is none.

Suban-10 Results
MPD operations for Suban-10 began, as planned, with the installation of the RCD and the PMCD components before the 12-
1/4” section was drilled. After the 9-5/8” casing was cemented in place, the DDV was installed along with the rest of the
drilling tieback. The DDV was installed at 1,428 m at a deviation angle of 12.24°.
SPE/IADC 114703 5

Partial circulation losses were encountered during the early phase of the 8-1/2” section while drilling through faults at 2,107m
and 2,176m, these were cured with LCM. Total losses were encountered at 2,237 m when a major fracture was hit, and gas
was then bullheaded back down, in preparation for PMCD operations. The volume of drilling mud lost to the formation was
already approximately 2500 barrels before the shift to PMCD was made.

Actual fluid densities used during PMCD are as follows: SDF - 8.3 ppg; VSDF - 8.6 ppg; LAM - 11 ppg; HAM - 15 ppg.
VSDF viscosity ranged from 100 to 115 sec. The fluid densities and pressures previously provided in Figure 5 were slightly
modified because the previous hole section was drilled deeper (by almost 100 m) than planned. Using PMCD, the depth from
2,238 m to 2,289 m (a total of 51 m) was subsequently drilled in MPD mode.

Another major fracture was encountered at 2,276 m, drilling continued to 2,286 m with increasing torque and erratic increasing
annulus pressures. A bit change due to hours/krevs resulted in the bit being stripped to above the DDV. The DDV was
functioned into the close position. However, with gas present both above and below the DDV, the differential pressure
required to seal the flapper effectively was not present. An attempt was made to bleed off gas from the surface to establish that
the DDV was closed, but this was immediately halted when it was realized that there was too much gas above the DDV that
was required to be bled off. Surface pressure therefore continued to rise and reached 3400psi, which is within the capability of
the Model 7100 RCD. Once sufficient fluid volume for bullheading was available, the gas was bullheaded back down using
VSDF, the DDV closed, and pressure bled off. With the gas bullheaded below it, the DDV sealed effectively and gas was kept
out of the wellbore. Circulation down the outer annulus and up the inner annulus, and the reverse, were then performed to
circulate out any remaining gas in the upper section of the hole. After pressures in the inner and outer annuli were zero, the bit
was conventional tripped out of the hole.

After discussions with partners and the government regulator (BP Migas), approval was obtained to complete the well since 4
major fractures had been encountered.

Preparations were immediately made for running the completion. Instead of killing the well before completion, the DDV was
used to hold the formation pressure until the completion assembly was positioned above it. The DDV is not designed to open
with a pressure differential across the flapper, therefore pressure equalization was performed before the valve was opened. The
gas below the DDV was bullheaded down the well and back into the formation at high rate via the outer annulus, and at a low
rate down the inner annulus past the packer element. Bullheading continued down the inner annulus at low rate while the
completion assembly was run in hole through the RCD. Finally, the packer was set, effectively isolating reservoir gas from the
wellbore. The presence of the outer annulus allowed much larger volumes to be bullheaded at higher rates without the concern
of pumping past the packer elements on the packer assembly.

Once the lower completion assembly was in place, the drilling tieback was pulled along with the DDV and injection collar. A
subsequent cleanout trip was made to displace the drilling mud to 12 ppg weighted brine, prior to running the upper 9-5/8” x
7-5/8” completion assembly. In total, mud and water losses when TD for Suban-10 was reached were already ~5450 and
~11,950 barrels, respectively. Of this amount, ~2950 barrels of mud was lost in MPD mode. Total mud and water losses up to
the time when the lower completion was run and the well was sealed up were 7,040 and 12,975 barrels, respectively.

The DDV was used during the drilling operations for the entire 8-1/2” hole section, from 2096 to 2289 m, a total of 193 m was
drilled through it before it was retrieved. After retrieval, all the components of the DDV system were found to be in good
working order and were deemed capable of service on the next well.

Subsequent testing operations in Suban-10 have proven the value of using MPD and DDV technologies during drilling and
completion operations. Results have shown that the well is capable of delivering at a high rate of +300 mmscfd to the Suban
Gas Plant facilities.

Suban-11 Results
Compared to Suban-10, the plan for Suban-11 was more simple in that the number of fluid types involved was reduced, from
as much as five (HAM, LAM, SDF, VSDF, and conventional drilling mud) to only SDF and VSDF. The use of VSDF as the
annular fluid instead of LAM, would have had the effect of increasing the surface pressure being exerted to as much as 1500
psi. In Suban-10, surface pressure was originally planned to be at 200-500 psi, since a more dense fluid was used in the
annulus.

The DDV for Suban-11 was set at 1,395 m with a deviation angle of 6.8°. It was set at a shallower depth than previously to
allow for the re-use of the DDV control line from Suban-10. However, the DDV was not used on Suban-11 because losses
were minimal.
6 SPE/IADC 114703

After retrieval, all the DDV system components (valve, cross-overs, pup joints, clamps, control line) were found to be still in
good, working order after their second deployment. There was slight damage done to the control line when it got caught on the
table bushings during retrieval, but only the protective cover, not the lines themselves were affected

Due to the lack of losses, MPD was also not used in Suban-11. Losses encountered were minimal and were easily cured with
applications of LCM or by the reduction of the pump flow rate. The maximum static and dynamic circulation losses
experienced were 49 bph and 307 bph at 220 gpm, respectively. VSDF was used to build volume to keep up with losses
experienced when nearing TD, where average dynamic losses ranged between 25 to 36 bph. Total losses to the well by the
time it was TD’d was pegged at 6202 barrels mud (original hole and side track), as opposed to Suban-10, where 7687 barrels
mud was lost to the formation in the 8-1/2” section.

Conclusion
The Suban-10 experience has proven that MPD and DDV technologies can be successfully integrated and applied during
drilling and completion operations to produce high-rate gas wells. The combination of the two technologies opens the door to
the construction of gas wells designed for increased productivity and output, by deliberately seeking out large fractures while
concurrently minimizing formation damage. The synergized use of MPD and the DDV will allow the drilling of fewer, but
larger output wells, greatly improving the economics of gas field development.

Acknowledgement
The authors would like to thank our partners, Pertamia and Talisman, the government of Indonesia, BPMIGAS and Migas for
their support to the Suban Big Bore development. Special thanks are extended to ConocoPhillips personnel - Brett Borland,
John Tregilgas, Peter Edwards as well as Weatherford personnel - Ken Muir who played a major role in the evolution and
implementation of this success. The authors recognize outstanding contributions of PT DATI, Halliburton, MI and
Weatherford to the success of this project.

References
1. Beltran, Juan C., Oscar Gabaldon, Gustavo Puerto, Pier Alvarado and Vladimir Varon: “Case Studies - Proactive Managed
Pressure Drilling and Underbalanced Drilling Application in San Joaquin Wells, Venezuela.” 2006. SPE Paper 100927-PP
presented at the 2006 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition held in San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A., 24–27 September
2006.

2. Colbert, John W. and George Medley: “Light Annular MudCap Drilling – A Well Control Technique for Naturally Fractured
Formations.” 2002. SPE Paper 77352 presented at the SPE Technical Conference and Exhibition held in San Antonio, Texas,
U.S.A., 29 September – 2 October 2002.

3. Hannegan, Don and Kevin Fisher: “Managed Pressure Drilling in Marine Environments.” 2005. International Petroleum
Technology Conference (IPTC) Paper Number IPTC-10173-PP. Presented at IPTC 2005 held in Doha, Qatar, 21–23 November
2005.

4. IADC Underbalanced Operations & Managed Pressure Drilling Committee: “IADC Well Classification System for Underbalanced
Operations and Managed Pressure Drilling.” 2005. Adopted by the IADC Board of Directors, 9 March 2005.

5. Sweep, M. N., Bailey, J. M. and Stone, C. R.: “Closed Hole Circulation Drilling: Case Study of Drilling a High-Pressure Fractured
Reservoir – Tengiz Field, Tengiz, Republic of Kazakhstan.” 2003. SPE/IADC Paper 79850 presented at the SPE/IADC Drilling
Conference held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 19-21 February 2003.

6. Timms, Andy, Ken Muir and Chad Wuest: “Downhole Deployment Valve – Case History.” 2005. Paper SPE 93874 presented at
the 2005 Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition held in Jakarta, Indonesia, 5-7 April 2005.

Table 1 - Suban Field Basic Reservoir Data

Discovered 1998
Working Interest 54% ConocoPhillips, 36% Talisman, 10% Pertamina
Reservoir Type Fractured sandstone, limestone, granite, and andesite
Formations (1) Batu Raja (Tertiary Limestone Reef), avg. phi 5.3%.
(2) Talang Akar (Tertiary Sandstone), avg. phi 7.1%.
(3) Basement (pre-Tertiary Granite, Andesite), avg. phi 1.5%
Depth 1800 meters (5,900 ft.) - 3200 meters (10,500 ft.)
Area 22,400 acres to LTG
Reservoir Pressure 4380 psia at 2485 meters
Reservoir Temperature 280°F - 360°F
Hydrocarbon type Wet Gas
Gas Gravity 0.66
Column Height 1061m to LTG
Drive Mechanism Depletion
Likely Recovery Factor >90%
SPE/IADC 114703 7

Figure 1 - Suban Field Location Map

Figure 2 - Suban Field Stratigraphic Column

8 SPE/IADC 114703

Figure 3 - Suban-10 Seismic Interpretation

Figure 4 - Suban-11 Seismic Interpretation

SPE/IADC 114703 9

Figure 5 - DAPMCD System Diagram

10 SPE/IADC 114703

Figure 6 - Suban MPD Decision Flow Chart (with Downhole Motor)

Drill ahead using LCM and calcium

carbonate as required

First losses observed

Losses less
PU and observe loss rate than 100 BPH

Losses between Losses between Total losses

100-300 BPH 300-450 BPH > 450 BPH

Losses Continue to drill Shut-in mud returns from Record pressure

less ahead for ~120 inner annulus and perform reduction in outer
than mins adding LCM an injection test down DP annulus. Determine
to determine if MPD can inner annulus level.
be initiated/maintained Calculate BMW

Injection test unsuccessful

PU off bottom, and
Losses start injecting VSFD
less than PU off bottom, and pump LCM pill #1, down the outer
100 BPH Observe losses for 10-15 mins annulus to initiate
MPD. Monitor
Losses 100-300 BPH Losses 300-450 BPH injection pressures on
both outer and inner
Continue to drill ahead for annuli. Stop pumping
~120 mins adding LCM VSDF when inner
annulus pressure

Losses PU off bottom, and pump LCM pill #2,

less Injection Displace
Observe losses for 10-15 mins test drillpipe to SFD
than
and commence
Losses 100-300 BPH Losses 300-450 BPH

MPD - Min 400gpm

Losses Continue to drill Shut-in mud returns SDF down DP and
less than ahead for ~120 from inner annulus pump 20 BPH of LAM
100 BPH mins adding LCM and perform an down inner annulus;
injection test down Pump VSDF down
Losses > 100 BPH DP to determine if outer annulus as
MPD can be
Losses PU off bottom, and initiated/maintained
less pump LCM pill, Fracture(s) plugging
than Observe losses for with an increase in
10-15 mins SSP, CP, and AP
Injection test
Losses > 100 BPH unsuccessful
PU off bottom, bullhead the
outer annulus to VSDF, the
Losses Continue to drill
Losses greater inner annulus and DP to mud
less than ahead for ~120
100 BPH than 100 BPH
mins adding LCM
Re-establish conventional circulation
with mud, and monitor well for losses
SPE/IADC 114703 11

Figure 7 - Suban MPD Decision Flow Chart (without Downhole Motor)

Drill ahead using LCM and calcium

carbonate as required

First losses observed

Losses less
PU and observe loss rate than 100 BPH

Losses between Losses between Total losses

100-200 BPH 200-300 BPH > 300 BPH

Losses Continue to drill Shut-in mud returns from Record pressure

less than ahead for ~120 inner annulus and perform reduction in outer
100 BPH mins adding LCM an injection test down DP annulus. Determine
to determine if MPD can inner annulus level.
be initiated/maintained Calculate BMW

Injection test unsuccessful

PU off bottom, and
Losses start injecting VSFD
less than PU off bottom, and pump LCM pill #1, down the outer
100 BPH Observe losses for 10-15 mins annulus to initiate
MPD. Monitor injection
Losses 100-200 BPH Losses 200-300 BPH pressures on both
outer and inner annuli.
Stop pumping VSDF
Continue to drill ahead for
when inner annulus
~120 mins adding LCM
pressure ~200 psi

Losses
PU off bottom, and pump LCM pill #2, Injection test Displace drillpipe
less than
Observe losses for 10-15 mins successful to SFD and
100 BPH
commence MPD
Losses 100-300 BPH Losses 200-300 BPH

MPD - Min 400 gpm

Losses Continue to drill Shut-in mud returns SDF down DP and
less than ahead for ~240 from inner annulus pump 20 BPH of LAM
100 BPH mins adding LCM and perform an down inner annulus;
injection test down Pump VSDF down outer
Losses > 100 BPH DP to determine if annulus as required
MPD can be
PU off bottom, and initiated/maintained
Losses
less than pump LCM pill, Fracture(s) plugging
100 BPH Observe losses for with an increase in
10-15 mins SSP, CP, and AP
Injection test
Losses > 100 BPH unsuccessful
PU off bottom, bullhead the
outer annulus to VSDF, the
Losses Continue to drill
Losses greater inner annulus and DP to mud
less than ahead for ~240 mins
100 BPH than 100 BPH
adding LCM
Re-establish conventional circulation
with mud, and monitor well for losses