SPE/IADC 98880

World’s First TTRD Well Drilled From a Floating

Platform in the Njord Field, North Sea
From Concept Study to Reality

First presented at 2006 IADC/SPE Drilling Conference - Miami

Presented at the SPE Bergen One Day Seminar, April 26th 2006 by:
Øyvin E Eng

Authored by:
T. Flatekvaal, Hydro E&P;
E. Saeverhagen; O.E. Eng; N. Jepson, Baker Hughes INTEQ;
J. Oyovwevotu, Leading Edge Advantage;
J.F. Namtvedt, M.M. Price, Hughes Christensen

© 2006 Baker Hughes Incorporated

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Presentation overview

Introduction

Concept study

Pre-planning and drilling of test well
BETA BHB-11

Pre-Planning and drilling of Njord well
6407/7-A-9-AH

Conclusions

© 2006 Baker Hughes Incorporated

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Introduction - The Njord Field
Owners:
Hydro (operator) 20.00 %
E.ON Ruhrgas Norge AS 15.00 %
ExxonMobil 20.00 %
Gaz de France 20.00 %
Paladin Resources Norge AS 15.00 %
Petoro 7.50 %
OER oil AS 2.50 %

Locations:
• Blocks 6407/7 and 6407/10,
• 130 kilometers northwest of Kristiansund
and 30 kilometers west of the Draugen field.
• Production start: September 1997

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2006 Hughes Incorporated
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Introduction - Geology of the Njord Field

© 2006 Baker Hughes Incorporated

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Concept Study

● Initial challenges and limitations

● Risk assessment to logically select solutions

● Development of solutions and equipment requirements

© 2006 Baker Hughes Incorporated

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Initial challenges and limitations

Severe variation in formation pressures

– 150 - 430 bar (depleted and virgin pressures)

Uncertainty if/where there is communication between
formations in the reservoir (Faulted)

High risk of differential sticking

Weakened Formation strength

Low flow regime

Highly curved well paths

Small hole size

© 2006 Baker Hughes Incorporated

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Risk assessment to logically select solutions
BHA Alternative
Example of risk evaluation.
5.80” Bit, RSS, SDN
5.80” Bit, RSS
5.80” Bit, RSS, Under-reamer
+ a SDN logging run after
5.80” x 5 7/8” (1mm) Bi-centre
Bit, RSS, SDN
5.80” x 6” (2.5mm) Bi-centre Bit,
RSS, SDN
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Risk
• Acceptable steering
response?
• Vibration problems? PDM
isolates and dampens vibr.
•Stuck pipe risk due to a small
clearance between BHA and
wall of hole.
•Good enough steering
response?
• Vibration problems? PDM
isolates and dampens vibr.
© 2006 Baker Hughes Incorporated
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Risk
•Reduced completion options (exp
screen).
•Good enough steering response?
• Stuck pipe risk due to a small
clearance between BHA and wall of
hole.
• Reduced completion options (exp
screen).
• Good enough steering response?
• Reduced completion options (exp
screen).
• Good enough steering response?
• Stuck pipe risk due to a small
clearance between BHA and wall of
hole.
Risk
•Characterisation required for
density and porosity sensors
for hole size < 5 7/8”.
• Stuck pipe risk due to a
small clearance between BHA
and wall of hole.
•Loss of radioactive sources.
•Excessive wear on the SDN
stab.
• No geosteering with a density
and porosity log.
• Characterisation required for
density and porosity sensors
for hole size < 5 7/8”.
SPE/IADC 98880
Equipment requirements

BHA design requirements:

● RSS with 6°- 8°/30m DLS capability

● Integrated high power PDM
● Low flow system capability
● LWD real time logging system incl.
- Hole Caliper
- ECD and flow off pressure
- Vibration and bending moment
- Azimuthal Gamma and Density

© 2006 Baker Hughes Incorporated

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Equipment requirements cont.
Bi-Centre bit design:
● 5.800” Pass-through diameter
● Drill over-sized hole to 5.921”
● 13mm cutters

Other:
● Extremly high power PDM
as contingency steer-able BHA solution
● Extremly high power PDM as contingency
for milling of whipstock window
● Whipstock system providing
suitably low DLS

© 2006 Baker Hughes Incorporated

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Equipment requirements cont.

Contradiction or ?

OD of BHA: Max 5.800” ID of hole: Min 5.875”

Versus
(DHSV – drift diameter 5.84”) (BHA requirements)

Keep BHA in motion Little or no pipe rotation

Versus
(Differential sticking) (No wear on 5 7/8” DHSV accepted)

© 2006 Baker Hughes Incorporated

All rights reserved. SPE/IADC 98880
Pre-planning
Reasons and decisions for initiating the test well

All BHA equipment needed to perform a

full scale drilling test to prove the
functionality of the system.

Test period for the test well was

scheduled from 8/3-2004 to 26/3-2004

The BHA being picked up for the test

well in Tulsa Oklahoma

© 2006 Baker Hughes Incorporated

All rights reserved. SPE/IADC 98880
 4 ¾” TTRD BHA Design
RSS steering unit Annular Gamma Ray Directional Two way
Near Bit inclination Pressure Resistivity Vibration telemetry unit

Bi-centre Bit Modular extremly

high power PDM

Rotational Caliper Corrected

Densisty Neutron (porosity)

Formation Pressure Tester CSDP

© 2006 Baker Hughes Incorporated

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5.921” TTRD specific Bi-centre Bit
design and development

Side Load Side Cutting Angle

(pounds) (degrees)
225 0.063
451 0.189
985 0.435
1998 0.779

Bit Surface Sideload Test set-up in Marble

© 2006 Baker Hughes Incorporated

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5.921” TTRD BHA / Bi-centre Bit
design and development
Bit Sideload Test and BHASys Pro Analysis
0.8
BHASys Pro Parameters 5.921 HC406B
8000# WOB 15°/100'
0.7
45°Inclination Hole at Bit
10°/100'
Sidecutting Angle or Bit Tilt (deg)

0.6 4-3/4" Autotrak 5°/100'

Response Grid Building
Inclination
0.5
Rate

0.4

0°/100'
0.3
100%
0.2
75%

0.1
0% Steer 50% Build Steer
Force Force Lab Test Parameters
120 RPM
0 25% 48 ft/hr
29% Carthage Marble
-0.1
-1000 0 1000 2000 3000

Bit Sideload (lbs)

Combined bit / BHA response

© 2006 Baker Hughes Incorporated

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5.921” PDC BIT TTRD Specific Design

Developed Through DART Process

– X-divisional Engineering efforts

Bit Specifications
– 5.650” Pilot Hole
– 5.800” Pass-Thru Diameter
– 5.921” Drill Hole
– 13mm Cutter size

Special Features
– Hi Imbalance Stability
– Reduced Cutter Exposure
– CFD Hydraulic Optimization
– Premium Genesis Cutters

© 2006 Baker Hughes Incorporated

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Test well geology

Formation variability
● Oil, gas, and coal zones
● Fast drilling shales
● Permeable sands
● Interbedded sand/shale sequences
● Hard and abrasive formations

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Test Objectives

Primary objective

● Qualify the functionality of the 4 ¾”RSS system and bi-centre

bit in the same configuration as for deployment on Njord with
respect to:

Mechanical integrity Command functionality

Mechanical durability Directional performance
Preparation of service Dynamic BHA behaviour
Electrical integrity Downhole Firmware

© 2006 Baker Hughes Incorporated

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Qualification Criteria and Results
Test well BHB -11
● Borehole Gauge Consistency
 Hole Caliper > 5.875” at all times
● Steering Agility
 The system delivered DLS > 9.2°/30m
● Tortuosity
 MPR log, NB Inc and vibration and bending load data
indicated no excessive vibration / no stick-slip
characteristics
● Tool Reliability ≥ 25 circ. hours
 Each component accumulated > 25 circ. hours without
failure
● System Fit for Purpose
 The BHA safely transited the DHSV without exceeding the
bending moment limits of the BHA components and without
damaging the DHSV itself
© 2006 Baker Hughes Incorporated
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Qualification Criteria and Results cont.
Pass-Through Test with DHSV mounted vertically below drill floor

3D RSS Assembly
Occasionally Shows
100-150lbs Drag.

Stabilised Motor Assembly

With 1.5º Bend Shows
Consistent 400-600lbs Drag

© 2006 Baker Hughes Incorporated

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Pre-planning Njord Well 6407/7-A-9 AH
Whipstock design
Bending Moments 4-3/4” rotary steerable TTRD BHA Original whipstock design

© 2006 Baker Hughes Incorporated

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Pre-planning Njord Well 6407/7-A-9 AH
Whipstock design
Pre-planning Njord Well 6407/7-A-9 AH
Whipstock design
Bending Moments 4-3/4” rotary steerable TTRD BHA Modified whipstock design

© 2006 Baker Hughes Incorporated

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Well Planning Considerations and Results
Njord Well 6407/7-A-9 AH

Minimum 6°/30m DLS steering capability
 The system delivered DLS > 8°/30m

Borehole Gauge Consistency for LWD and directional performance
 Hole Caliper > 5.875” at all times

Drill string dynamics and induced wear on tubing and accessories
 No damage to the completion tubing and its accessories

Use of a low-angle window exit system
 Successfully deployed a modified low-angle whipstock
 Confirmed accuracy of calculated bending forces on the BHA

Whipstock window milling with PDM and < 600 lpm flow
 No success with a standard low flow PDM
 Success with an extremely powerful low flow PDM

© 2006 Baker Hughes Incorporated

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Well Planning Considerations and Results
Njord Well 6407/7-A-9 AH

Oil based mud stability over time

 No severe barite sagging observed

Hole cleaning with low flow and limited drillstring rotation
 Successfully cleaned hole with ≤ 600lpm flow and
≤ 40 RPM on drill string

Rig heave impact on swab and surge pressure
 Acquired data indicating maximum 4m heave limitation

ECD impact on formation strength
 Accuracy of calculated ECD data confirmed by realtime data

Balance between well control versus formation strength
 Unable to reach TD because of weak formation strength

© 2006 Baker Hughes Incorporated

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Conclusions Njord Well 6407/7-A-9-AH

The Concept of drilling sub-sea TTRD wells

has been technically proven on well 6407/7-A-9AH

Winter operations are feasible if maximum heave is

limited to 4m

The TTRD BHA / Bi-Centre bit solution was fit for
purpose

Further enhancement of Bi-Center bit and BHA is
possible for larger hole size and higher DLS

© 2006 Baker Hughes Incorporated

All rights reserved. SPE/IADC 98880
 Thank You !

QUESTIONS?