Paul Francis is currently the Business Development Manager, Eastern Hemisphere at Schlumberger @balance DPM Services. Until recently, he was the leader of the global Low Cost Well Technology Theme for Shell where he led a team of experts implementing technologies such as managed pressure drilling.

Francis joined Shell in Holland in 1990, and worked on a number of R&D topics, including formation damage and underbalanced drilling.  In 1998 he set up the IADC Underbalanced Operations Committee and was Chairman of the 1st International IADC drilling conference in 1999.  Before returning to Holland in 2005, he was the Wells Technology Manager for PDO and was heavily involved in bringing underbalanced operations to Oman. Francis recently chaired the SPE Forum “Well Construction in the Year 2020+” and is currently a member of the SPE Forum Steering Committee (Eastern Hemisphere).

Paul Francis, Schlumberger @balance DPM Services

Automated Managed Pressure Drilling -- A Present and Future Game Changer

Of the many technologies that help drilling stay on target, on budget and safe, none have changed the game more than those that control the bottomhole pressure (BHP), and not just in depleted fields. Undeveloped reservoirs exist in basins around the world that are easily damaged by heavy drilling. In basins with narrow margins, operators have spent more and drilled less, trying to force their way through with heavy-handed drilling practices. Not surprisingly, operators are calling a timeout to evaluate new technology to manage the BHP.  When it was introduced, not too long ago, automated managed pressure drilling (MPD) quickly established a new standard for BHP control by the immediate impact it had on drillability. It reinvigorated stalled development projects in deepwater fields. It increased drilling efficiency in high-angle and horizontal wells. It gave operators a new edge on safety in HPHT. And, as a complement to other technologies, it helped to create solutions in high-risk fields where none existed before. Adding impetus to the rising trend in automated MPD is the growing interest in automated drilling systems by operators and rig contractors alike. Integration with rig control systems is under discussion, remote operations of unmanned systems are within sight and closed-loop BHP control with wired pipe has already been done. Automated MPD has changed the way new and existing fields around the world are being drilled and it is poised to change the game for some time to come.