Abstract

Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) serves to improve well construction and hole quality primarily by mitigating the risks associated with narrow margins. Drilling engineers have recognized the value of MPD in reducing cost and drilling reservoirs that are technically unfeasible with conventional methods. However, the Petrophysicist, Completion Engineer, Reservoir Engineer and Asset Manager indirectly stand to gain equally important benefits of pressure management through reduced formation damage, better borehole stability, and expanded access to depleted reserves.

MPD is the method of drilling that allows you to drill on the fine line between pore pressure, well bore stability, and fracture gradient. Drilling in a balanced condition opens the world of formation evaluation to one in which invasion and borehole rugosity is more controlled which provides better answers. And, through expanded reservoir targeting it opens up for expanded development reserves that may be stranded below areas of current production.

The method of MPD consists of managing bottom hole pressure in a controlled manner with a drilling fluid that may be at or just under or over balanced relative to pore pressure. There are several ways to accomplish this. One that is gaining wide acceptance is known as constant bottom hole pressure (BHP) control. We will present case histories of this method which were achieved with new automated technology known as the Dynamic Annular Pressure Control system. This system utilizes a rotating control device, choke manifold, back pressure pump, and hydraulic model, under programmable logic control.

Constant BHP control has resulted in reduced drilling flat time, more stable well bores for logging, and through the incorporation of pressure while drilling data, reduced risk of kicks, lost circulation, and stuck pipe. Future developments will be discussed involving real time pore pressure prediction and look ahead pore pressure projections that are not currently possible.

 

Biography

Paul Fredericks works for At Balance in Houston, Texas and has 30 years of international and domestic oil field experience ranging from open and cased hole wireline, measurement and logging while drilling, and managed pressure drilling. His career has spanned field operations, log analysis, technical support, operations and product line management, and marketing. Paul joined At Balance as Director of Marketing in 2005 and directs all activities related to marketing, advertising, sales support, and communications for the company and its products and services. He has published and presented technical articles for various professional organizations including the SPE, IADC, and SPWLA. Paul graduated from the University of Mississippi with degrees in Geology, Physics, and Mathematics.