Underbalanced and Managed Pressure Drilling: Technologies for Improving Drilling Performance, Enhancing Production, and Reducing Project Risk
12-15 October 2008
Ho Chi Minh City, VIetnam
Underbalanced drilling (UBD) and managed pressure drilling (MPD) are technologies that accurately control annular pressure while drilling and completing wells. The intention of MPD is to avoid continuous influx of formation fluids to the surface. Any influx incidental to the operation will be bled off and over balanced conditions quickly restored. During UBD pressure exerted in the wellbore is intentionally less than the pore pressure of the exposed formations with the intention of bringing formation fluids to the surface. Much of the equipment required is interchangeable between MPD and UBD technologies. Both MPD and UBD technologies require specifically designed fit-of-purpose equipment specification and operational procedures which can vary significantly (with associated large cost implications) depending on project objectives.
Both UBD and MPD can be used to dramatically reduce well construction time, which in today’s high rig rate market is appealing to any exploration, appraisal and field development team. Both technologies can, to a greater or lesser extent, reduce or eliminate drilling fluid related formation impairment, and can dramatically reduce the high cost of mud loss, and Non-Productive Time (NPT) created by kick control. They can also deliver a wide range information (differing with UBD, MPD and operations design) that can be used to optimize well designs and field development plans to reduce well numbers required to achieve similar recovery efficiencies.
This ATW will be used to further operators and service suppliers understanding of the value delivered by all aspects of UBD and MPD, together with optimal equipment designs for each value application. It will include a full day of operator discussion of the Business Cases they used to apply these technologies to a wide range of global projects. For many operators, developing a strong business case for UBD or MPD applications may not, it or itself, ensure project approval. A half-day session will review case studies of how operators have achieved project approval and buy-in from all stakeholders within their company, project partners and government agencies. The final day of the workshop will be devoted to equipment and service supply. In addition to a general session on what is new, dedicated sessions will be held to discuss options for tripping out with the drill string and UBD/MPD completion techniques.
Workshop Focus and Objectives
The objectives of the Applied Technology Workshop are to:
- Equip management and engineering staff with options to reduce HSE risk, reduce well cost, reduce environmental impact and increase well production with special emphasis on how to convert ideas into approved operations.
- Assist operations and engineering staff to optimally (maximum value for
minimum cost) specify:
- Equipment needed for a range of UBD applications.
- Equipment needed for a range of MPD applications.
- Equipment needs for wells that require a combination of UBD and MPD techniques for different hole sections or contingency management within a single section.
- Ensure new equipment and service options that are becoming available are
understood and incorporated into the above:
- Simplification options for what has been considered “standard equipment packages”.
- Down hole deployment valves update.
- Compatible completion equipment and techniques.
- Advances to Real-Time down hole measurement and telemetry tools for monitoring and verifying reservoir assumptions.
- Ensure that regional issues associated with technology uptake are
understood, giving engineering and management staff better insight as to means
of capturing UBD and MPD value for their companies:
- North America – why is it the UBD and MPD heartland?
- The Middle East – why does this region have the fastest growing utilization of UBD and MPD?
- Asia Pacific – why is UBD and MPD not more widely used?
- Vietnam home court “special entry” – fractured granite MPD.
Who Should Attend
This workshop is primarily aimed at professionals in the oil, gas and geothermal industry who are involved in the design, implementation, operation and management of exploration, appraisal or field development programs. Reservoir, production, petrophysical and drilling engineers working on onshore, offshore and deepwater assets would benefit greatly in this workshop. Registrants will be encouraged to discuss their own case histories and experiences.
