Gulf of Mexico Deep Ultra-HP/HT Completions - Current Technology Gaps

Numerous operating companies are pursuing new and much deeper geologic horizons on the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) continental shelf. However, as well depths increase, wellbore construction and production operations become much more challenging because of high-pressure/high-temperature (HP/HT) extremes. These wells can be drilled safely, but there are significant well-completion-technology gaps that require design and development. The full-length paper details requirements for the production tubulars as well as for downhole and surface completion equipment.

View a Synopsis of SPE 97300.

This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 97300, "Gulf of Mexico Shelf Deep Ultra-HP/HT Completions - Current Technology Gaps," by D. Hahn, SPE, APA Petroleum Engineering Inc.; M. Atkins, SPE, and J. Russell, SPE, BHP Billiton Petroleum (Americas) Inc.; and B. Pearson, SPE, APA Petroleum Engineering Inc., prepared for the 2005 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Dallas, 9-12 October. The paper has not been peer reviewed.