ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Lesson 17

Flow Drilling
Mudcap Drilling
Snub Drilling
Closed Systems
Read: UDM Chapter 2.8-2.11
pages 2.180-2.219
ATM ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Flow Drilling
• Flow drilling refers to drilling operations in
which the well is allowed to flow to surface
while drilling.
• All UBD operations are really flow drilling
operations, but the term is usually applied to
drilling with a single phase mud, and no gas
is injected except by the formation.

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ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

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ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Drilling fluid selection

• Density is determined by:
– maximum pressure <= to formation pressure
– minimum pressure dictated by wellbore
stability
• Pressure limitations of diverter and BOP
equipment

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ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Surface Equipment

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ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Surface Equipment

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ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Surface
Equipment

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ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Surface Equipment - RBOP

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ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Surface Equipment - RBOP

sealing element

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ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Surface Equipment

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Sizing Flare line

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ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Sizing Flare line

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Sizing Flare line

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Sizing Flare line

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Surface Pits
• Primary Oil Separation Pit
• Secondary Oil Separation Pit
• Skimmer System Safety
• Drilling Fluid Pit
• Oil Transfer Tank

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ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Operating Procedures
• Mechanical objective is to control the well
at the surface to maintain underbalanced
conditions.
• Maximum tolerable surfaces pressures
should be established before drilling starts.

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Mudcap Drilling
• Utilized with uncontrollable loss of
circulation during flowdrilling operations.
• Higher pressures than can be safely handled
with the rotating head or RBOP.
• Not necessarily underbalanced.

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Mudcap Drilling
• Driller loads the annulus with a relatively
high density high viscosity mud and closes
the choke with surface pressure maintained
• Drilling is then continued “blind” by
pumping a clear non-damaging fluid down
the drillstring through the bit and into the
thief zone.

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Mudcap Drilling
• Applications:
– Sustained surface pressures in excess of 2000
psi
– Sour oil and gas production
– Small diameter wellbores

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Mudcap drilling

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Fluid Volume Requirements

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ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Fluid Volume Requirements

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Fluid Volume Requirements

• Annular volumes will depend upon whether
the operator desires continuous or periodic
injection of annular fluids or whether a
floating mudcap is to be used.

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Fluid Volume Requirements

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Fluid Volume Requirements

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Fluid Volume Requirements

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Snub Drilling
• UBD operation utilizing a snubbing unit or
coiled tubing unit.
• Expense is justifiable if very high formation
pressures are anticipated, and
uncontrollable loss of circulation is
expected.

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Closed Systems
• Refers to UBD operations with a specific
surface system.
• A pressurized, four phase separator and a
fully closed surface system, is used to
handle the returned fluids.

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Fig. 2.70

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ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Fig. 2.71

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Fig. 2.72

Harold Vance Department of

ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM
ATM PETE 689 UBD ATM

Other Surface Equipment

• Cuttings Filter
• Heater
• Degasser
• Flare Stack/Pit
• Production Tank
• Water Tank
• Solids Tank
• Instrumentation
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ATM Petroleum Engineering ATM