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Drilling
C O N T R A C T O R
J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 3
W W W. D R I L L I N G C O N T R A C T O R . O R G
REGIONAL FOCUS:
EUROPE
P L
DATA DELIVERY
Integrated approach
delivers GOM subsalt
well for PEMEX
Vel. Int_Subcubo RTMvi
Vel. Int_Pseudo 3_RTMvi
Vel. Int_Pseudo 4_RTMvi
Vel. Int_Pseudo 1_RTMvi
Vel. Int_Pseudo 2_RTMvi
Cap Rock
Real-time drilling
optimization key
to pre-drill modeling,
Salt
Rubble zone
For PEMEXs foray into the deepwater, subsalt arena, the company
planned a drilling route around the
Kabilil-1 subsalt well in the Gulf of
Mexico that incorporated a deviated trajectory through a rubble
zone. The idea was to avoid the risk
of drilling through the salt dome in
an exploratory well.
R e p r i n t e d f r o m t h e J u ly / A u g u s t i s s u e o f D r i l l i n g contractor
3D GEOMECHANICAL
MODELING
In performing the initial risk assessment for determining the optimum drilling strategy, the technical teams prepared a pre-drilling analysis that included a finite-element numerical model and
a 3D mechanical earth modeling simulator to predict the effects of the initial
in-situ stresses, measure the influence of
salt intrusion and induced pressures and
earth stresses, and determine adequate
mud weights.
The 3D simulator conducted a stress/
strain analysis on a small section of the
sedimentary layers and the salt bodies.
Element models were taken from geologic structure maps using the VISAGE
modeling software. The methodology
incorporated data from one-dimensional
mechanical earth models of several offset wells, property propagations using
3D seismic data and 3D finite element
KABILIL-1
KABILIL-1
Pore Pressure
(kPa)
15000.0
-714.29.0
-16429.0
-32143.0
-47859.0
-63571.0
-79286.0
-95000.0
1.1437e+005
85777.0
57185.0
28593.0
1.0000
KABILIL-1
KABILIL-1
North
North
Visage Mesh
11.7 km
(65 cells)
6 km
(127 cells)
KABILIL-1
-15000.0
North
-15000.0
-6250.0
-6250.0
-27500.0
-27500.0
-48750.0
-48750.0
-70000.0
-70000.0
North
10.6 km
(59 cells)
North
Real-Time Monitoring
of Drilling Parameters
and Geomechanics
Key to the validation of the pre-drill
modeling and plan execution was the
real-time drilling optimization program.
The program requires teamwork between
the operator and service company to
R e p r i n t e d f r o m t h e J u ly / A u g u s t i s s u e o f Dr i l l i n g c o n t ra c t o r
REAL
Air gap=25 m
Water depth=739 m
Hole 28 in
Hole 17 in 20 in
850 m
Casing 20 in
1,524 m
1.051.25 g/cm 3
Conductor 36 in
845 m
Casing 20 in
Rotary table=765 m
Top well head 18 in=2.30 m
Top housing 36 in=2.30 m
Landing sub colled 20 in 16 in=1,250 m
Air gap=25 m
Conductor 36 in
Hole 28 in
PLANNED
1,500 m
1.051.35 g/cm 3
Hole 17 in 20 in
Synthetic Mud
1.211.33 g/cm 3
Liner 16 in
Pilot Hole 14 in 17 in
Synthetic Mud
1.201.25 g/cm 3
Liner 16 in
2,125 m
Pilot Hole 14 in 17 in
Synthetic Mud
1.371.53 g/cm 3
Synthetic Mud
1.301.40 g/cm 3
BL
Casing 13 5 8 in
2,200 m
3,000 m
Casing 13 5 8 in
3,346 m
3,400 m
KOP 3,420 m
Hole 12 in 14 in
Hole 12 in 14 in
Synthetic Mud
3
1.571.89 g/cm
Liner 9 5 8 in9 7 8 in
Synthetic Mud
1.451.52 g/cm 3
Liner 9 5 8 in9 7 8 in
BL
4,450 m
4,563 m
Open Hole 8 in
4,600 m
Hole 8 in
Synthetic Mud
1.77 g/cm 3
Liner 7 5 8 in
TD=5,350 m
Synthetic Mud
1.551.65 g/cm 3
TD=5,350 m
A real-time drilling optimization program was key to the success of the Kabilil exploratory well due to uncertainties that
remained even after extensive upfront planning. In the 16-in. casing section, seismic-while-drilling data was used to acquire
depth-velocity information, calibrate the geomechanical and geological models and provide real-time surveillance to
adjust the model against the pre-drill model. In the 9 5/8-in. and 8 -in. open-hole sections, real-time LWD tools were used to
gather petrophysical information.
Shear stresses from the salt body
influence would result in narrower mud
weight windows for the 20-in. and 16-in.
open-hole sections;
The presence of a reverse fault in
the open-hole sections posed the risk of
well losses;
Because the surface seismic model
contained uncertainties regarding the
precise location of the salt flank, the
planned well trajectory would require
precise navigation around the salt body.
Drilling into the salt dome would add
complexity to the operation;
The well design would need to be
optimized using unconventional casing (16-in. and 13 5/8-in. outer diameter
strings) to allow two additional contingency casing strings (11 -in. and 5
-in.) for the interval with the narrow
drilling windows;
Special underreaming BHA designs
were required to perform simultaneous
hole opening without the need for extra
drilling runs. Due to the hole-opening
initiatives, the BHAs would need to be
stabilized with drilling simulators to
minimize drilling vibrations that could
destroy downhole tools and damage the
borehole with BHA shocks;
Continual equivalent circulating density would be required to minimize mud
losses due to drilling-induced fractures
or during the well cement process. A
R e p r i n t e d f r o m t h e J u ly / A u g u s t i s s u e o f D r i l l i n g contractor
Lower Miocene
Drill bit @ 2,140 m
Salt
Fault
Energy source
Raypath
Salt
REAL-TIME VISION
Because the Kabilil well was an exploratory well, it was prudent to acquire LWD
data while drilling to reduce uncertainties. The primary objective of the lookahead seismic-while-drilling service was
to reduce the depth uncertainties and
identify potential risk zones. Additionally,
LWD measurements were acquired for
calibrating the geomechanical and pore
pressure models.
For example, a real-time look-aheadof-the-bit check shot and vertical seismic
profile (VSP) of the interval between
1,500 meters and 2,200 meters (4,921 ft
to 7,218 ft) was deployed in the 16-in.
casing section where the fault plane had
been predicted. The VSP data below the
drill bit revealed homogeneous reflections rather than the strong amplitude
that had been expected for salt presence.
The seismic-while-drilling information
made it possible to precisely map the bit
position and identify the location of the
fault plane to set the 16-in. casing just
below that point. When drilling resumed,
the location of the fault plane was used
to determine when to stop drilling for the
16-in. casing. The system also conducted
a salt proximity survey in the 13 5/8-in.
section, determining that the well was
actually closer than expected to the salt
Receiver
Depth, m
Horizontal Distance
Between Receiver and
Salt Flank, m
2175.7
2204.3
2232.9
2261.1
2289.4
2318.2
2347.0
2375.8
2404.4
2432.6
2460.9
2489.1
2517.2
2545.8
2573.0
2601.3
2629.6
2658.1
196.4
185.7
176.0
182.0
184.0
187.5
183.4
178.4
175.8
177.9
172.7
171.4
167.7
164.1
163.0
171.3
179.8
175.7
Salt
Salt
R e p r i n t e d f r o m t h e J u ly / A u g u s t i s s u e o f Dr i l l i n g c o n t ra c t o r