Lesson 38

Introduction to
Underbalanced
Drilling Technology

Wellsite UBD
Equipment

Nitrogen
Geology

UB operators

Separator
Rotating Head

Mud Treatment

Camp

UB DRILLING - JOBS

1998 Spears & Assoc.

Underbalanced Drilling in the United

States
16,000
LOW

TOTAL UNBDERBALANCED WELLS

14,000

HIGH

12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
95

96

97

98

99

00
YEAR

01

02

03

04

05

UBD Definition

Formation Pressure is
equal to or greater than
Circulating Pressure

UBD - Types
Normally Pressured Reservoirs
Applications for normal to above normal
pressured reservoirs utilizing fluid
systems in a controlled flow drilling
technique.

Depleted Reservoirs
Where a multi-phase circulating fluid is
necessary to achieve required Bottom
Hole
Circulating Pressure (BHCP) underbalanced or with minimal

Barriers to UB Drilling

REGULATORY BARRIERS
to
UnderBalance Drilling

The regulators
need assurance
and details

BARRIERS TO UB D&C
Regulatory
Lack

of Standards
Lack of knowledge
Little statistical history
Concern about well control
Environmental questions

OPERATORS BARRIERS

The Operator
needs
experience
and
confidence.

OPERATORS PROBLEMS
Unfamiliar
risk

Lack

with the system

of the new

of experienced people
Economics - Too expensive
Concern- liability
Concern- well bore stability

REASONS FOR UB
GROWTH

There are
driving
economic
reasons

UBD Forecast by Region

US

UBD Forecast by Region

Can
Eur

1,200

SoAm
ME/Afr

1,000

FE

Wells

800

600
400

200
1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

1998 Spears & Assoc.

REASONS FOR UB
GROWTH
Depleted

reservoirs
Awareness of skin damage
Limits of lost circulation
matl.
Cost of differential sticking

REASONS FOR UB
GROWTH
Service

co. competition
Trade journal publications
Horizontal drilling
Consultants available

TECHNICAL
IMPROVEMENTS

We were not
ready to put
all of this
together until
the 1990s

TECHNICAL
IMPROVEMENTS
Compressor

Evolution
Hammer drills
Nitrogen
Increased

availability
Reduced cost
On site generation

TECHNICAL
IMPROVEMENTS
Recyclable

foam systems
Better gas separators
Closed loop circulation
Hydraulics models
Improved rotating heads
Wire line wet connect

TECHNICAL
IMPROVEMENTS
Improved

MWD
Rig assist snubbing units
Coiled tubing equipment
Non-damaging drilling
fluids
Top drive

Reasons for UB drilling

Lost
circulation

Reasons for UB drilling

Lost
circulation
Faster Drilling

Reasons for UB drilling

Lost
circulation
Faster Drilling
No
Differential
Sticking

Reasons for UB drilling

...
Reduce
Reservoir
Damage

Reasons for UB drilling

...
Reduce
Reservoir
Damage
Improve Prod.
Evaluation

Effect of Skin on Production

Rates

BOPD
1,000
800
600
400
200
0

-3 -2 -1 0

SKIN

10

15

Physical Limitation to
UBD

Borehole Instability
Unconsolidated Sands
Weak Formations
Geopressured Shales
Salt Beds

Inadequate Casing
UBD is another tool in the toolbox,
not a Panacea.

Production Limits to UBD

Permeability
is so low the
zone needs to
be fracked

Zones must
be isolated

Types of Flow Regimes

LIQUID

AERATED
LIQUID

FOAM

MIST

GAS

Generalized
Fluid Systems

Equipment - Rotating
Head

Shaffer Rotating Blow-Out Preventor

2,500 psi rotating - 5,000 psi static

Closed Loop Circulation

System
FLARESTACK
SEPARATOR
SAMPLE
CATCHERS
OIL
TANKS

TOP
DRIVE
SYSTEM

NITROGEN
PUMPERS

CHOKE
MANIFOLD

R-BOP
WATER
TANKS
RETURN
CUTTING

RIG
MUD
TANKS

RIG
PUMPS

N2 / FLUID
MIX

Equipment - Gas Source

Stainless Steel
Carbon Steel
Vaporizer
Liquid Nitrogen
(-320OF)

Pump

Gaseous
nitrogen to well
80OF, 0-10,000
psi

6.11.3

AIR DRILLING
A brief summary

Air Drilling
Air/Gas drilling (dust) is a technique used in
areas where the formations are Dry i.e.,
there is no influx of water or liquid
hydrocarbons.

This medium requires significant compressed

gas volumes to clean the well with average
velocities of over 3,000 ft per minute.

Air Drilling Dusting

Air Drilling Benefits

Increased Rate of Penetration
Reduced Formation Damage
Improved Bit Performance
Lost Circulation Control
Continuous Drill Stem Test

Air/Dust Drilling Layout

Misting
Addition

of 6 to 30 bbl/hr of
fluid to the air stream.
Cleans and lubricates the bit
Carries the cuttings to the
surface as a mist or more
normally in a modified two
phase flow.

FOAM DRILLING
Basic Comments

TT96-86

39

Foam Drilling
The most versatile of the gas-generated
systems.

Effective operating range from 0.2 to 0.6 s.g.

Mixture of gas phase and foaming solution.
Foam flow varies with depth in the hole.
Adjustable effective BHP.
Enhanced lifting and well bore cleaning.
A displacing medium, not a propelling
medium.

Foam (Heading)

Improved Hole Cleaning

Foam Drilling Benefits

Faster Penetration rate

Low Air requirements
Low fluid requirements
Low Hydrostatic head
No damage to formation
Continuous Drill Stem test
Best for large holes

Mist or Foam Drilling

Layout

GASEATED
OR
AERATED
DRILLING

Mist
Water
Gas

Transition

Gaseated

Aerated Fluid
Gasification of Primary Drilling Fluid.
Initially designed as a technique to lighten
mud to reduce lost circulation.
Methods
Standpipe injection
Jet Sub
Parasite String
Dual Casing String
As an UB fluid, it is easiest to control in small
holes.

Parasite String

Small injection string run simultaneo

with intermediate casing.
Injected gas does not affect
bit hydraulics.
Injected gas does not effect
MWD

Aerated Fluid Layout

Aerated Drilling Problems

Compressor/
N2
Cost

Rotating BOPs
Solid/Liquid/Gas
Separation

Corrosion
Hydraulic Calculations
Vibration

High Torque/
Drag
Borehole Stability

Cuttings Lifting
Fluid Influx
Fire/
Underbalanced
Explosions Completion
MWD Transmission