Managed Pressure Drilling

February 2012
Schlumberger MPD training and Teambuilding

Agenda
MPD Experience and Organization

Managed Pressure Drilling Concepts

MPD Equipment
MPD applications
MPD on Maersk Innovator
PressPro RT
Perform services
Working together

Who we are:
RCDs

Dynamic Pressure
Management
(Organized under M-I
SWACO in Norway)
Pressure Control

Examples of MPD Systems Applications

What we do:

Precisely control downhole mud weight at the push of a button

What is MPD?
IADC defines MPD as:
an adaptive drilling process used to precisely control the
annular pressure profile throughout the wellbore. The
objectives

are

to

ascertain

the

downhole

pressure

environment limits and to manage the annular hydraulic

pressure profile accordingly. MPD is intended to avoid
continuous influx of formation fluids to the surface. Any influx
incidental to the operation will be safely contained using an
appropriate process.
6

What MPD is NOT?

MPD IS NOT UNDERBALANCED DRILLING.

By definition, MPD operations are planned to keep the
bottomhole pressure above the pore pressure at all times.

MPD IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR WELL

CONTROL.
If at any time a well control incident is recognized the well
should be shut in and operations carried out using the rig
choke manifold.
7

What we do

Conventional Drilling

Managing annulus pressure

Conventional Drilling
Pressure

Collapse Pressure

Pore pressure

Gradient = mudweight

Fracture pressure

Static fluid pressure

Dynamic fluid pressure

Depth

10

Managing annulus pressure

Conventional Drilling
Pressure

Collapse Pressure

Pore pressure
Fracture pressure

Static fluid pressure

Dynamic fluid pressure

ECD
Depth

Annular Friction Pressure

11

Managing annulus pressure

Managed Pressure Drilling

P
Pressure

Collapse Pressure

Pore pressure
Fracture pressure

Static fluid pressure

Dynamic fluid pressure

Depth

Connection with MPD

12

Real Data Examples

Conventional = No Annular Pressure

Using Automated Annular Pressure

Why we do what we do:

Safety:

Eliminate non-productive time:

Kick detection, faster well control response, pore pressure

fingerprinting, environmental barrier

Kicks, losses, stuck pipe, borehole collapse, ballooning

Improve Efficiency:

eliminate casing strings, reduce formation damage, better ROP

How we do it:

Close the system:

Trap pressure:

Rotary control device

Choke manifold, back pressure pump

Anticipate and respond to the well:

hydraulics modeling, manual or automated control

system

Conventional Equipment Diagram

Standpipe
Rig Pumps

Shakers

Bell
Nipple
Flow Line
Mud Pits

BOP
Stack

MPD Equipment Diagram

Standpipe
Rig Pumps
Rotating
Flow
Head

Primary
Line

Shakers

Mud Pits

BOP
Stack

MPD Choke
Manifold
Backpressure
Pump

To Rigs
Poor Boy

MPD Mud Flow Transition

At start of connection the backpressure pump adds mud flow

while rig pumps are turned off

MPD Mud Flow Transition

During connections rig pumps are off. The backpressure pump provides
the mud flow through the manifold and into the annulus through the RCD

Hydraulic model and MPD

Hydraulic model to calculate the set point of the choke pressure.
PressPro RT will be used together with PWD data to calibrate the
MPD system on this project.

The accuracy of all input parameters in the hydraulic model is

crucial for maintaining a steady BHP in the well, and the fluid
parameters may possible be one of the biggest error sources, as
they in many cases are measured manually and only periodically.

Measures to improve BHP accuracy.

Use a density stable mud system.
Measure MW regularly and consistently. Remember to adjust to
temperature

Integration of PressPro in MPD control system

Intention for use on B-19 and VB

Controlling gas levels in mud at a manageable level.

Reduce static mud weight and hence the risk of losses
Allow full drilling rates when circulating through MGS
Better kick / loss detection (+/- 20 Gallons)

23

Narrow Mud Weight Windows

How is it done conventionally in Normal Mud Weight Window?
Depth

Surface
Pressure =
Atmospheric
Pressure

1. Static condition (pumps off)

Static Pressure
Gradient (ESD)

2. Dynamic condition (pumps on)

Dynamic Pressure
Gradient (ECD)

Pore
Pressure

Fracture
Gradient

Friction
Losses
Pressure

24

Pressure

Narrow Mud Weight Windows

Depth

What happens conventionally in a Narrow Mud Weight Window?

1. Static condition (pumps off)

Static Pressure
Gradient (ESD)

2. Dynamic condition (pumps on)

Dynamic Pressure
Gradient (ECD)

Pore
Pressure

Fracture
Gradient
Loss of
circulation!!!!!!

Pressure
25

Narrow Mud Weight Windows

Solution: Constant BHP MPD Narrow Mud Weight Window

Depth

1. Static condition (pumps off)

Static Pressure
Gradient (ESD)

2. Dynamic condition (pumps on)

Dynamic Pressure
Gradient (ECD)

Pore
Pressure

BHP is constant
at all times

26

Fracture
Gradient

Pressure

Minimizing Borehole Instability

Depth

Narrow Mud Weight Window due to Breakout Pressure > Losses Pressure

Pore Pressure

Non-existing
MWW!!!!!

Breakout
Pressure

Losses
Pressure

EMW
27

Minimizing Borehole Instability

How is it done conventionally in Normal Mud Weight Window?

Depth

1. Static condition (pumps off)

Static Pressure
Gradient (ESD)

2. Dynamic condition (pumps on)

Dynamic Pressure
Gradient (ECD)

Pore Pressure

High chances for

considerable
breakout

Breakout
Pressure

Losses
Pressure

Operation designed to avoid

losses over breakouts
EMW
28

Minimizing Borehole Instability

Solution: Constant BHP MPD Narrow Mud Weight Window

Depth

2. Dynamic condition (pumps on)

Static Pressure
Gradient (ESD)

1. Static condition (pumps off)

Dynamic Pressure
Gradient (ECD)

Breakout
Pressure

Losses
Pressure

Mud Density

Pore Pressure

Chances for
breakouts are
minimized

WHP is added during static

periods to compensate for
friction losses, keeping the
Pressure Profile constant

EMW
29

Operation designed to avoid

losses over breakouts

Fatigue Cycling of the Wellbore

Pressure

Fatigue Cycling of the Wellbore is a potential cause of hole collapse and cavings that lead to stuck pipe

Delta Pressure

Drilling

Connection

Drilling

Time
1. Drilling with a given ECD (Pumps on) Hole Stable
2. Pumps off Downhole pressure decreases and the formation

relaxes Cavings fall into the wellbore

3. Drilling resumes and the pressure is enough to maintain
the wellbore stable again

30

Fatigue Cycling of the Wellbore

Solution: Constant BHP MPD

Pressure

Annular Pressure is applied

Surface to keep downhole
pressure constant

Drilling

Connection

Drilling

Time
1. Drilling with a given ECD (Pumps on) Hole Stable
2. Pumps off Annular Pressure is applied Surface to keep downhole

pressure constant, avoiding the formation to relax

3. Drilling resumes and the pressure is enough to maintain
the wellbore stable again

31

Ballooning

What happens during conventional operations?

1. Drilling with a given ECD
(Parameters steady)

Flow In

2. Pumps off downhole pressure

decreases
3. Formation returns fluid
(ballooning) Pit Level increases

Pit Level
Downhole Pressure
32

Potential Interpretation: Influx

Ballooning

What happens during conventional operations?

Cycle of continuous losses-influxes

Ballooning
incorrectly
interpreted as influx

Mud density is
increased

Well control
attempt

Losses of
circulation

Influx
33

Loss of
hydrostatic head

Ballooning

How can it be addressed using MPD?

1. Drilling with a given ECD
(Parameters steady)

Flow In

2. Pumps off friction losses are

replaced with surface pressure
3. Downhole pressure remains at
the same value

Pit Level
Downhole Pressure
Surface Pressure
34

No changes in pit volumes

Depth

Immediate Pressure Profile Change

Planned ECD
Adjusted ECD
(WHP > 0)

Pore Pressure

Expected
Breakout
Pressure

SOLUTION

Actual
Breakout
Pressure
Losses
Pressure

Replace friction losses during static

periods to keep ECD constant

EMW

35

Increase pressure at surface with MPD

equipment until appropriate ECD profile is
found

Immediate Pressure Profile Change RT Drilling Window

Used in exploratory sections where the drilling window is uncertain

THE TECHNIQUE

Depth

Flow in
Flow out

The use of Surface Backpressure and a Kick

Detection System allows to determine the
drilling window in RT

Losses Pressure

Pore Pressure

PROCEDURE
ECD is kept at a value where drilling is done
without problems (Flow in = Flow out)
PP: Surface backpressure is decreased in
steps until the well kicks (Flow out > Flow in)
Losses: Surface backpressure is increased in
steps until there is a loss (Flow out < Flow in)
EMW

36

Dynamic Flow Check- Schematic

- Flow out measured by Flowmeter
Bottom hole pressure

Flow from DAPC Pump

Increase SP
to maintain
BHP

Surface Pressure step down.

Typically 30-50 psi increments
Time

Flow out noted Shut in

- Press increase
after Shut in
- Shut in Annular
- Circulate through
rig choke manifold

Flow (gpm)

Surface Pressure (psi)

Flow from Rig Pumps

While Drilling

Swabbing

As pipe is pulled
Fluid flows down annulus
Fluid flows down drill string

Pressure

Swabbing Stripping in a Tight Window.

Formation Strength (Upper Limit)
MPD case
Drilling (ECD)

Drilling (ECD)

Conventional case

Swab pressures
(POOH)

Apply Back
Pressure to offset
Swab

MAASP

Fluid Gradient

Loss of
hydrostatic

Trip
Margin
Pore Pressure (Lower Limit)

Well kicks

Small influxes
while pipe is
moving
Time

MPD Well Control

Primary barrier is (in this case) unchanged compared to
conventional drilling, as we will have a full overbalanced column
of fluid in the well at all times.
Normal well control procedures apply Driller in charge of well
However, the following must be addressed:
Kick detection
Kick handling

Handling of losses
Transfer between well control equipment and MPD equipment
Flow checking
Finger printing

Loss of rig power

40

MPD Training
Onshore
Level 1
4 Hour sessions for rig crews and other personnel
Level 2
Equipment walk trough and familiarization during stack up test.

Offshore
Level 3
Practice in cased hole prior to drilling out
Fingerprinting and commissioning to verify that system is working
as planned.

41

What affects MPD Operations

Any activity involving altering or pumping mud around the well should be done in
collaboration with the MPD Supervisor.
If mud related equipment is faulty, failing or about to be shut down, then the MPD
Supervisor need to know.
Any DATA or MWD tool changes during MPD operations

Any changes or interruption to the mud, air, water or power supply to the MPD System
should be brought to the attention of the MPD Supervisor.
The Driller should continue with Good Drilling Practice when in MPD mode. This
includes issues like working the pipe, etc etc.

Pros and cons

Pro
Reduces pressure fluctuations down hole less risk of well breathing
problems less risk of wellbore instability.
Reduces static mud weight and hence the risk of losses
Allow full drilling rates when circulating through MGS
Better kick / loss detection (+/- 20 Gallons)

Con

Extra equipment on the rig will require time to rig up ad down.

Extra personnel on the rig 5 in total.
New procedures.
More time spent on connections due to ramp up/ramp down of pumps
and bleeding off stand pipe pressure

MPD Procedures
Operating Procedures (sample)

Contingency Procedures (sample)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

Pressure testing
Commissioning
Connection
Tripping out
Kick while drilling
Valve check list
RCD change out
Drillers Instructions

Mud pump washout

Plugged choke
Plugged drilling string
Annulus pack off
Plugged bit nozzle
Stuck pipe
Washed out DAPC choke
Drill string washout
Loss of rig power
NRV failure while tripping / drilling
Plugged flow meter
Pump failure
PWD failure

Two broad categories of procedures Operational and Contingency

Each procedure is fit-for-purpose defined for rig, well, and application

Commitment - Teamwork

MPD success depends on Teamwork and

strong communication with all rig & office
personnel, service providers and company
representatives!

MPD Equipment

RCD Smith Hold 2500

RCD Components, Running Tool and Hookup

Choke Manifold
Double block and bleed
manifold.
Two choke legs and one
gut line
HPU powered from PLC

Panel. Operates chokes

and HCR

Coriolis Flowmeter
Flow Meter
Uses coriolis effect
Very accurate (+/- 0.05%) measure of :
Mass flow rate
Volumetric flow rate
Density
Temperature
Can show light and heavy spots in mud

MPD Workstation

Situated in drillers cabin to

improve communication and
reduce required deck space
area for seperate control
cabin. Need space for two
Pcs and one MPD
technician.

MPD RIG UP

Equipment Rigup

RCD

MPD Equipment layout on Maersk Innovator

MPD System

Interface to rig

56

Tie in to injection pump for flow during connections

Tie in to choke manifold or cement manifold for back up pump and possibility for
pressure testing lines. (Double isolation)
Tie in to rigs MGS to circulate mud with high gas content through system and continue
drilling.
Data link to Mud Logger for WITS data and PressPro RT.
Extra stroke counters on mud pumps for max reliability or tie in directly on existing
stroke counters.
Changes to connection procedures

Schlumberger Services
Directional Drilling
Mud
PressPro RT

Perform
Others?

Discussion
How do we interface with each other?
How does the different services affect each other?
How can we be viewed as one common service provider?

Thank You!