MPD CoP Talk
16th February 2017
What is MPD, Why do we Need it?
Mark Arathoon, MPD SME
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Where can I find information on MPD within the PETRONAS intranet?
PCSB Manuals!
https://epecm.petronas.com.my/sites/wells/IRM/Forms/AllItems.aspx?RootFolder=%2fsites%2fwells%2fIRM
%2fWells%20Manuals&FolderCTID=0x012000600D7D7F6219FB44B34452AA5C93E86F
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Where else can I find information on MPD within the PETRONAS
intranet?
iCOP Intranet!
https://pww.icop.petronas.com.my/cop/cop_mppmcub/SitePages/CoPHome.aspx
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What is MPD, and why do we need it?!
• IADC definition: An adaptive drilling process used to precisely control the
annular pressure profile throughout the wellbore. The objectives are:
• To ascertain the downhole pressure environment limits
• To manage the annular hydraulic pressure profile accordingly
• MPD applications include: This presentation will
•
•
Constant Bottom Hole Pressure (CBHP)
Pressurized Mud Cap Drilling (PMCD)
focus on the CBHP
• Underbalanced Drilling (UBD) variant of MPD
• Dual Gradient Drilling (DGD) (Because in PCSB, when we say “MPD” we
usually mean CBHP )
Internal
Conventional Drilling – a reminder
• An ‘Open’ system – the top of the drilling fluid
in the annulus at the bell nipple is open to the
air (atmospheric pressure)
BHP = Hydrostatic Pressure (PHYD) + Annular
Friction Pressure (PAFP)
• Drilling fluid is the primary well control barrier
• To prevent influx, bottom hole pressure must
be higher than formation pressure, at all
times! Factors:
MW (hydrostatic)
BHP = ECD (pumps on); ESD (pumps off) Flow rate, PV (“friction”)
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Geometry
The “Drilling Window” • Simplistically: the gap
between pore pressure and
fracture pressure
• Wellbore instability may be the
lower boundary in some cases –
always get a WBS Study!
• BHP should be higher than Pore
Por
pressure to avoid taking an
Depth
eP
Fr influx; and higher than the
res
ac
tu
sur
re
Drilling Window P wellbore instability limit, to
e
re
ss
ur
e minimize wellbore breakout or
Wel
lbo
in extreme cases, hole collapse
re In
stab
i li ty Drilling Window • BHP should be lower than
Fracture pressure to avoid
Internal
Pressure downhole fluid losses
The Practical Drilling Window
• In practice, we apply safety
margins on pore pressure and
ESD (pumps off)
ECD (700gpm) fracture gradient, making the
ECD (950gpm) window smaller
• We also have to consider
uncertainty in PP & FG estimates
Por
Depth
eP
Fr Fra from subsurface
res
Practical actu ctu
sur
r
Drilling Window re P e Pr
• We also have minimum flowrate
e
re e
200psi OB ss ssu
ur
requirement e – re requirements, for hole cleaning
0.
2p
p
and for downhole tool operation
g
– these affect the gap between
ESD and ECD (higher flowrate =
higher ECD)
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Pressure
ECD and ESD - in Conventional Drilling
• During connections (pumps off),
PU BHP = ESD
M
PS
PU
O
• During drilling (pumps on),
M
N
PS
BHP = ECD
OF
F
Depth
ESD ECD Fr
ac
• With a normal (wide) drilling
Por
tu
re
eP
Pr
es window, in ‘normal’ formations,
res
Drilling Window s ur
su
e
this is fine!
re
Wel
lbo re In ECD
stab ESD
i li t y (Side note: ESD is not always the same as
MW measured in the pits – remember
temperature affects fluid density)
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Pressure
‘Narrow Margin’ Wells (Narrow Drilling Window)
• Some wells have a narrow drilling
Pore Pressure
window, perhaps due to a weak
PU Fracture Pressure
M fracture gradient, or overpressured
PU
PS zones, or both!
O
M
N
PS
OF
• During drilling (pumps on),
F
Risk of ECD > FG => losses
Depth
ESD ECD • During connections (pumps off),
Risk of losses when drilling! Risk of PP > ESD => influx
Narrow Drilling Window
ECD > FG
• Well design may require additional
casing strings, or may even be
Risk of influx when pumps off!
PP > ESD undrillable conventionally
(Side note: Sometimes the drilling window may be OK,
but the wellbore & drill string geometry makes the
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Pressure ECD-ESD gap very large – with the same end result (risk
of losses or risk of influxes)
So How can MPD help?! • In wells where a single mud weight will
either lead to losses (while drilling), or
Lower Mud Weight an influx (while pumps off)….
PU ESD + 0psi SBP
M
• MPD may allow the well to be drilled,
PU
PS Lower Mud Weight,
O
M
N ESD + xxxpsi SBP using a lower MW, with a lower ECD.
PS
–O
OF
rig Lower Mud Weight
F–
i na ECD + 0psi SBP
Or
lM
• Then applying SBP while drilling…
igi
W
Depth
EC Lower Mud Weight
al
D
M
ECD + xxpsi SBP
W
ES
• And a higher SBP on connections…
D
• Allows the well to be drilled within
the drilling window, without any
losses or influxes…
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Pressure
How MPD can help (numbered example)
300psi
• MPD may allow the well to be
50psi Pore Pressure
drilled, using a reduced MW and
Fracture Pressure
additional SBP (varying the SBP
ESD, 0psi SBP while drilling and on connections)
50psi
ESD, 300psi SBP
• During drilling (circulating), by applying
ECD, 0psi SBP 50psi SBP,
ECD, 50psi SBP “ECD” < FG => no losses
Depth
• During connections (pumps off), by
300psi
applying 300psi SBP,
“ESD” > PP => no kick
50psi • In this example, the mud is hydrostatically
underbalanced (against unofficial PCSB policy)
• Also in this example, the ECD (with no additional
50psi SBP) exceeds PP; however, in reality, if passing
through an MPD choke and pipework, there is
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Pressure always additional (unavoidable) SBP – hence a
nominal 50psi is shown
Managed Pressure Drilling – system differences
• A Closed system
RCD BHP = Hydrostatic Pressure (PHYD) + Annular Friction
Pressure (PAFP) + Surface Back Pressure (PSBP)
• Closed annulus => RCD required
• Adjustable SBP => MPD choke required
MPD CHOKE
• Annulus pressure > Drillstring pressure (static)
=> NRVs required in BHA
NRVs in BHA
• Drilling fluid together with the RCD is the
primary well control barrier
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BHP = ECD + SBP1 (pumps on); and ESD + SBP2 (pumps off)
Anchor Point, Trigger Point, Point of Constant Pressure
• The anchor or trigger point is the
Pore Pressure
depth in the well at which BHP
Fracture Pressure
remains the same between drilling
(circulating) and pumps off.
ESD, 300psi SBP
• In this example, the anchor point happens to
be mid-way through the open hole section.
ECD, 50psi SBP
Depth
Anchor or Trigger Point
• In “CBHP” mode, the anchor point can be designed
(Point of Constant Pressure) to be at the shoe, or at the drilled TD as the
section progresses, or at some point in between.
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Pressure
CBHP - increasing SBP as depth increases
SBP on connections 210psi at this drilled depth SBP on connections 300psi deeper down
ESD (w/210psi SBP) ESD (w/300psi SBP)
ECD (w/50psi SBP) ECD (w/50psi SBP)
Depth
Depth
Pressure Pressure
• This is CBHP… as depth increases, the SBP on connections must also be increased, to match the ECD
pressure at the bit.
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CBHP or CCSP: what are the consequences?
Constant Bottom Hole Pressure (CBHP) Constant Casing Shoe Pressure (CCSP)
ESD, 300psi SBP ESD, 180psi SBP
ECD, 50psi SBP ECD, 50psi SBP
Higher pressure at CCSP
the shoe during
connections (with
CBHP)
Depth
Depth
Reduced BHP at TD
on connections
CBHP (with CCSP)
Section TD Section TD
Pressure Pressure
• If your main concern is an influx on • If your main concern is a weak shoe,
connections, use CBHP use CCSP
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Conventional Drilling vs MPD vs UBD
• In conventional drilling, overbalanced mud weight is used to prevent influxes
from coming into wellbore. We need to change the mud weight in order to
increase or decrease BHP. Mud weight must be heavier than pore pressure at
static conditions.
• In MPD, can apply SBP to modify the annular pressure profile. Mud weight can be
lower, equal to, or higher than pore pressure, depending on requirements; but
BHP always > PP (we still don’t want influxes in MPD)
• In UBD, the system is also closed, but plan for BHP < PP and formation fluids are
allowed to come to surface while drilling.
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MPD Advantages (CBHP methodology)
1. Drill through narrow drilling window (without kicks or losses)
2. Drill with reduced overbalance, less formation damage
3. Improved ROP (reduced MW = reduced chip hold-down effect)
4. Identify weak zones using DLOT
5. Identify onset of pressure ramps using SFC
6. Adjust BHP very quickly and simply using SBP, if signs of pressure ramp
7. Reduce ballooning effects (pumps on / pumps off: no change in BHP)
8. Reduce cyclic stress effects on weak shales (ditto)
9. Faster kick detection, hence smaller kicks (using Coriolis Meter)
10. MPC to enable safe cementing in narrow margin wells
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MPD Disadvantages But….
1. If drilling with CBHP, get no “pumps off 1. Can perform MPD SFC and circulate
gas” events to trend – hence may drill into bottoms up – controlled way of getting
a pressure ramp and not realize it “pumps off gas” data
Can perform MPD DLOT if suspect weak
zone penetrated – can re- define the
window while drilling!
2. Cost: RCD and MPD package is additional
cost 2. Avoiding kicks, losses, wellbore breathing
and hole instability can save a huge
3. POB: RCD and MPD crews add to already amount of money
tight POB 3. OK, we still have not trained rig personnel
to manage RCDs and MPD… one day!
4. Rig Crews and Mud Loggers may get 4. MPD gives extra eyes and Early Kick
complacent thinking MPD takes care of Detection capability – so probably more
well control – it doesn’t! beneficial than not having it!
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When planning a well, how do we know
if we need MPD or not?!
1. Get the PP-FG data from subsurface – then challenge them on validity and evidence
2. Cross check with offset well data - losses, kicks, MDT and LOT points
3. Get a Wellbore Stability Study - identify impact on drilling window, min “MW”
4. Look for history of wellbore ballooning or cavings / stuck pipe
5. Perform hydraulics modelling for each section
6. Check the static MW overbalance > 150psi or 200psi
7. Check the ECD at least 0.2ppg below FG
8. If all good, probably no need for MPD!
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MPD Line Up - RCD
Drilling
Flow Spo
ol Drilling
The rig’s bell nipple
Rig Chok
and flowline are no MPD Cho e
ke Manifold
longer accessible – so MG S
returns are taken from
the flow spool, via the BOP
MPD choke and MPD
flowmeter, back to the
shakers and pits.
Flowme
ter
Back Pr Trip Tan
essure k
Pump
To Stan
d pipe
Mud Ta
nk
Mud Pu
mp
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MPD Line Up - RCD
Connections Flow Spo
ol Connection
s
Note: MPD SBP Pump Rig Chok
can be replaced by a MPD Cho e
ke Manifold
rig mud pump, if MG S
sufficient pumps
BOP
Note: Normally the
SBP pump rate is kept
Flowme
constant and the ter
choke size adjusted to
change the SBP Surface Trip Tan
Back Pr k
essure
Pump
Flow
Pressure Mud Ta
nk
transmission Mud Pu
mp
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Well Control!! Well Contr
ol – circulatin
g out a kick
Note: MPD equipment
!
Rig Chok
is NOT used for Chok e
e Line Manifold
circulating out kicks – MGS
if suspicion a kick has
been taken, shut in on BOP
rig BOP and circulate
out through rig choke!
Flowm
eter
Back Pr Trip Tan
essure k
Pump
To Stan
d pipe
Mud Ta
nk
Mud Pu
mp
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In Summary
1. MPD is a great tool for the right applications
2. MPD solves some challenging drilling problems - but is not
required on all wells!
Thank You – any more(?) questions?!
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