SPE Drilling & Completion
Volume 27, Number 1, March 2012, pp. 139-144

SPE-140913-PA

Development of a Continuous Directional Coring System for Deep-Sea Drilling

  • Yuichi Shinmoto, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
  • Eigo Miyazaki, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
  • Kazuyasu Wada, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
  • Masaoki Yamao, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology

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DOI  More information 10.2118/140913-PA http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/140913-PA

Citation

  • Shinmoto, Y., Miyazaki, E., Wada, K., and Yamao, M. 2012. Development of a Continuous Directional Coring System for Deep-Sea Drilling. SPE Drill & Compl  27 (1): 139-144. SPE-140913-PA. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/140913-PA.

Discipline Categories

  • 1.2 Drilling Design and Analysis
  • 1.3 Wellbore Design/Construction
  • 1.4 Drilling Equipment and Operations

Keywords

  • Coring, Directional coring, Deep-sea drilling, Gas hydrate, Turbine motor

Summary

Core sampling is one of most important methods for gaining knowledge on formation properties below the seafloor or for extracting such potential new energy resources as methane hydrates. The riser-equipped deep-sea drilling vessel Chikyu carries out scientific expeditions for such underwater formation core drilling to analyze the origin of hydrate generation near the coast of Japan. Among the various systems available, continuous coring using wireline is the most promising for obtaining a steady supply of core samples.

Although measuring-while-drilling/logging-while-drilling (MWD/LWD) methods are deployed, an advanced directional control system specifically for deep-sea coring is currently under technical development. Core barrels consisting of the inner and outer barrels have been designed with an inner barrel that is retrievable and resettable. The new method combines an adjustable bent-housing sub that is located between the outer barrel and just above the inner core tube.

Laboratory tests in which the inner barrel is passed through the bent housing section have been performed, with results showing bent housing angles of 0.25–2.0°. Land drilling tests with the bent housing were also performed in order to ensure drilling efficiency and core recovery. This paper presents the progress of our newly developed coring system with an integrated analysis of directional-drilling and coring capabilities.

© 2012. Society of Petroleum Engineers

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History

  • Original manuscript received: 2 August 2011
  • Meeting paper published: 23 May 2011
  • Manuscript approved: 13 September 2011
  • Published online: 21 February 2012
  • Version of record: 15 March 2012