Managed Pressure Drilling

Development driven by
HPHT Depletion Needs

Kristin Field, Norway

Steinar Aabye Solvang

GO AMERICA Christian Leuchtenberg

HALLIBURTON Isabel Gil

Kristin Location
Kristin HPHT rating
 Kristin Field Overview

• 190 km / 120 miles offshore

• Gas – Condensate reservoir with 3 formations
• Giant field (reserves > 500 million barrels equiv.)
• 910 Bar / 13,200 psi
• 170°C / 338°F
• 380m / 1250’ water depth
• Top of reservoir at 4600m / 15,100’
• High angle wells, 75°- 85°, to 6100m / 20,000’
 Kristin Field Layout

4 Subsea Templates
Kristin Floating Platform
Subsea Template
Drilling Rig
Brønntest på - Scarabeo
boreriggen Scarabeo 5 5
 Kristin Well Status
• Primary drilling program 12 wells N-3 H

completed
P-3 H

• Four completions still to be done P-2 H

• 1 workover (S-4 H) and 2 IOR wells

planned S-2H P-1 H

R-3 H
S-4 H
S-3 T3H
• Kristin production started 3. Nov S-1 H
R-2 H

2003 with 7 wells on production R-4 B T2H

• Holding back production volume of R-1 T2H

approx 150 MSm3 gas and 150 km3

Templates
condensate per month due to
Drilled wells
depletion restriction on well
operations
 Kristin is depleting

• As reservoir depletes, the drilling window decreases

because we keep the static mud weight above initial
pore pressure

• Stress Cage mud system increases fracture

resistance

• Continuous circulation system keeps us in drilling

window

• Currently we can handle up to 150 bar depletion

• Expandable liner is qualified as contingency

 Managed Pressure Drilling
IADC Definition

• …. The objectives are to ascertain

the downhole pressure environment
limits and to manage the annular
hydraulic pressure profile
accordingly.

• Our driver is: SAFETY when drilling

from a floater
 Managed Pressure Drilling

• Conventional Drilling:

BHP = ECD ( Static mud weight + effects)

Only adjustment available is: Pumps on, pumps

off and pump speed

• Managed Pressure Drilling:

BHP = ECD + Backpressure (choking)

 Tools for MPD from a floater

• Continuous Circulation System – available if required

• MPD choke – available
• Automated choke control – available
• Rotating Control Devices – available, but not
specifically suited for floater application
– Through rotary table
– Fullbore access for hang-off, BOP test
• Riser Pressure Control System – method to cap the
riser
Slip Joint
Scarabeo 5 250 psi / 17 bar

(500 psi / 34 bar)

 MPD compared to Conventional
Conventional MPD
Slip joint volume Occurs None
change
Surge and swab Occurs Occurs
Can be partially
compensated
Closed system None Occurs
heave Can be partially
compensated
Time to detect Variable, masked by slip Very rapid, can detect less
influx joint, accuracy of sensors than ¼ bbl

Change mud 2 circulations if mud is Very rapid

weight ready 20 sec to 5 min
Control losses Reduce pump rate, Simply reduce
pump LCM backpressure
 Conventional Kick Detection
for Kristin Drilling
• 4 interconnected level sensors on pits
• Flowmeter on diverter outlet
• Monitor crane movement
• Finger printing

• Time to detect an influx……then to confirm…..

• 30 sec ……1 min………???
 Close the BOP !!!!

5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45 sec

All we can do is to watch the flow !

MPD on KRISTIN – What do we intend?

• MPD will be used as a SAFETY measure

• Enable safe drilling into depleted reservoir

• Have a more sensitive system to detect kicks

and losses

• Avoid getting into any loss scenario

MPD on KRISTIN – What do we intend?

• Have a pressure contained system that can take full

differential pressure between static mud weight and
original pore pressure

• This means:
– Drilling with riser continuously under pressure at
15 to 35 bar, 200 to 500 psi
– Experiencing up to riser working limit - about 165
bar, 2400 psi
Weak Points in Riser other than Slip Joint
• Connectors
• Seals
• Lower Flex Joint

• Intermediate Flex Joint not used for Kristin

•Riser Fill up Valve not used for Kristin

•Booster line inlet float rating

No Problem
•Choke and Kill lines
 Riser pressure rating: Cameron RF
• Nominal rating of 172 bar (2500 psi) at 2MM lbs load

• Weakest point is 4130 steel on riser connector flanges

• API 6A / 16 A (0.66 MAS) rating of 205 bar (2976 psi)

• API 17G (0.6 MAS) rating of 185 bar (2678 psi)

• Weakest point is lower flex joint rated to 3000 psi

• Considering 2SG mud in riser, final rating of

165 bar (2390 psi)
 Riser Discussion Conclusion

Acceptance of Technical Limits for Pressurized Riser Operation

• Can be used up to 0.6 MAS as per API 17 G
• Seals capable of holding this pressure
Barrier Discussion
• Subsea BOP will remain the Well Control Point
• Fluid in hole + backpressure = 1 barrier
Additional Steps to Ensure Riser Integrity
• Pressure test riser sections to 0.9 MAS before use
• Pressure test whole riser to max. working pressure,
as determined by operating envelope, before job
 Depletion limits drillable with MPD
Pressure Depletion in Ile at N2-H Location
1100.0

1026,7 bar

1000.0
3730 psi 6600 psi
257 bar 455 bar
115,2 bar
depletion Initial Pore Pressure = 911,5 Bar
depletion
911,5 bar
900.0
165 bar / 2400 psi
Lower flex joint 345 bar / 5000psi
and riser limit Technical Limit
800.0 due to RCD rating
185 bar
Static Mud Weight = 746,5 bar (~1.5 SG)

700.0

600.0 230 bar

Static Mud Weight = 561,5 bar (~1.1 SG)

500.0
N-2H_Ile
Pressures at
Pfrac_Ile_N2
Ile N-2H 4823 mTVD
Pmin H_Ile_N2

400.0
Dec-05 Dec-06 Dec-07 Dec-08 Dec-09 Dec-10 Dec-11 Dec-12 Dec-13
Metocean Conditions
Previous Rig-up
 Riser Pressure Control System

Multi-part Sliding Joint

Slip Joint 0 bar
0 bar 35 bar max. operating
17 bar max.
Riser capped with RCD
10 - 30 bar Normal operating
165 bar Maximum operating
165 bar Riser working pressure
Multi-part Sliding Joint (MPSJ) Purpose

• To allow annular return of drilling fluids back to diverter

when the Rotating Control Device is not in use.

• To pin the top of the riser assembly to diverter.

• To allow easy rig-up of equipment onto riser assembly

below, by being able to handle equipment attached to the
bottom.

• Environmental spill protection

• Can also be used to expand the weather range for surface

BOP systems.
Kristin scenario drilling: Conventional
Kristin scenario drilling: MPD
 Pressure
Depletion

01.01.07 01.08.07 01.08.08 01.08.09

01.08.07 01.08.08

60 bar 100 bar

GARN

110 bar 150 bar

ILE

TOFTE
 Influx Pressure Rise (2)
Influx Pressure Rise for a Marine Riser Backpressure of 35 Bar
(Using Annular Volume of 193.7 m3)
200.00 (Using Annular Volume of 193.7 m3)
55,00
180.00

160.00

140.00

System sensitive to kick

dp + 35 Bar, Bar

120.00
50,00
100.00
detection with low
80.00
volume influx
d p + 3 5 Ba r, B ar

60.00 MW 2
MW 1.9
MW 1.8
40.00 45,00 0.04 m3 = ¼ bbl MW 1.7
MW 1.6
20.00

0.00
0.00 0.20 0.40 0.60 0.80 1.00 1.20 1.40 1.60 1.80
Reservoir Influx Volume, m3

40,00 MW 2
MW 1.9
MW 1.8
MW 1.7
MW 1.6

35,00
0,00 0,02 0,04 0,06 0,08 0,10 0,12 0,14 0,16
Reservoir Influx Volume, m3
 Drivers for MPD on Kristin

• Primary Drivers:
– Better kick detection
– Reduced kick volume
– Allows drilling in depleted reservoirs – with risk of
original pore pressure

• Secondary Drivers:
– Reduce risk exposure time in reservoir section
– Increased drilling efficiency
– Reduced formation damage
 MPD on floaters - Goals
• Zero well control events

• Increase drilling efficiency.

Reduce non-productive time by:
– 10 % in 1st year after successful field test
– 15 % in 2nd year

• Measurable increase in NPV due to accelerated

production
 What if ?

• Drilling with a closed system was the norm

• Allowing:
– Early kick detection
– Less kick volume
– Reduction in drilling problems

• And you applied for a drilling permit wanting to

use an open system !!!
In the future when drilling from floaters

We should use MPD for:

• HPHT
• Exploration
• Depleted reservoirs
• Through tubing rotary drilling

• And eventually:
We will drill most wells with a closed system
QUESTIONS ?