Directional Casing while Drilling

Combining CASING DRILLING and

PowerDrive rotary steerable systems
to deliver a viable well construction option
for mature offshore fields
 Directional Casing while Drilling
Directional Casing while Drilling, using a retrievable BHA to
steer the wellbore, provides a unique solution to the lost circulation
and wellbore stability problems commonly encountered during
mature field well construction offshore.
M
ost Casing while
Drilling—about
80%—is done by
attaching a nonre-
trievable bit to the bottom of the
casing and leaving the bit in the
hole. Directional casing while
drilling (DCwD) uses a steerable
BHA that is retrieved—not left
in the hole. That makes DCwD
a viable alternative to conventional
directional drilling in depleted
or mature fields that have severe
lost circulation and wellbore
stability problems.
IMPROVES WELL CONTROL
AND WELLBORE STABILITY
Well construction in mature
fields with standard drillpipe
sometimes requires extra casing
strings to avoid well stability
problems caused by depleted
formation pressures. Because
they improve wellbore stability,
the DCwD techniques developed
by Schlumberger under the
sponsorship of ConocoPhillips
may reduce the number of casing
strings needed.
When circulation is lost or the
wellbore collapses and excessive
cuttings come to the surface
during conventional drilling, the
usual—and often ineffective—
remedy is to condition the mud
and ream the hole. If an hour
is spent conditioning and reaming
for every 2 hours spent drilling
conventionally, DCwD techniques
can very likely save rig time and
reduce well construction cost.
advantages OF Directional
casing while drilling
in OFFSHORE FIELDS
■ Reduced well construction costs
■ Improved personnel safety
because of reduced pipe
handling
■ Circulation while tripping,
which enhances well control
■ Proven and tested technology
■ Reduction in number of
casing strings
■ Higher-quality wellbores
■ Trained and experienced
Schlumberger personnel
working in close collaboration
SOLVES PREVIOUSLY
UNSOLVABLE PROBLEMS
Well construction in mature
■
fields where persistent drilling
mechanics and wellbore
stability problems occur
at very predictable times
or depths
Hole sizes from 6 to 171⁄2 in
■
PROVIDES UNIQUE SOLUTIONS
BHA retrievable at will using
■
wireline or drillpipe
Available for most-popular
■
casing sizes: 7, 95⁄8, and 133⁄8 in
Rugged, robust rotary steerable
■
system: 43⁄4 to 8 in
Technique of casing rotation
■
that actually strengthens
wellbore
DCwD techniques also improve well control because they allow circulating while
the BHA is being retrieved or run into the well. They also leave the casing at or Drill Lock Assembly (DLA)‡
very near bottom while the BHA is out of the well. During drilling, DCwD rotation connecting BHA to Casing
strengthens the borehole wall because of the plastering effect, also referred to Profile Nipple
as smear or stress cage, that occurs in the narrow annulus.
Internal
USED SUCCESSFULLY IN NORTH SEA tandem
stabilizer
The first deployment of unique DCwD technology offshore was on a well drilled
from the ConocoPhillips-operated Eldfisk Bravo platform in the Norwegian sector
of the North Sea. Both the 103⁄4-in and 73⁄4-in sections of Well 2/7B-16A—total-
ing 10,968 ft—were drilled successfully and positioned as planned using
retrievable BHAs that incorporated PowerDrive X5* rotary steerable systems
(RSSs), PowerPak* straight positive displacement motors (PDMs), and Pulse*
telemetry and surveying systems. The casing strings were rotated at 20 to PowerPak
30 rpm from the surface, and the PDMs provided an additional 130 rpm to straight PDM
the RSS, polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bits and under-reamer. ROP
varied, but was as high as 80 ft/h. All directional objectives for the complex
wellbore were achieved, with a maximum dogleg severity of 4.83°/100 ft.
Casing shoe
Offers VIABLE AND RELIABLE success
Casing while drilling has a long track record of success in commercial Vibration Motor bit box
land wells in which BHAs have been retrieved at least a thousand times. sensor sub
To prove its viability and reliability for offshore use, DCwD technology Under-reamer
was tested extensively before its deployment to the North Sea.
For additional information, see SPE papers 79862, 79914, 92195, 99248,
and 112560, or contact your Schlumberger representative. Roller reamer

­
Drillpipe Casing

Pulse telemetry and

surveying MWD system

Annulus

PowerDrive X5 RSS
Because directional casing while drilling minimizes annulus size, casing rotation causes a plastering
effect—also called smear or stress cage—that mechanically strengthens the borehole wall.

PDC bit

The steerable BHAs for directional casing while drilling are usually
run and retrieved on wireline, but drillpipe also can be used.
 Directional
Casing while
Drilling
DCwD, using a retrievable
BHA to steer the wellbore,
is a viable alternative to
conventional directional
drilling in depleted or
mature fields that have
severe lost circulation
and wellbore stability
problems.

www.slb.com/DcWD

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Copyright © 2012 Schlumberger. All rights reserved. 12-DT-0112