A Case Study of Latest Technologies Enables Successful Completion of ERD Exploration Project Off the Coast of Tierra del Fuego

摘要

To help satisfy the demands for petroleum products, operators are being forced to drill in increasingly challenging environments. Combine cold winters, some of the strongest winds in the world, and a very remote location in the waters off the coast of Tierra del Fuego certainly could be considered challenging. In this case study, the operator successfully constructed extended reach wells through low fracture gradients under the previously described harsh environment. Attempting to circulate long columns of cement slurry when constructing extended reach drilling (ERD) wells under these conditions stretches the limits of current technology. Nowhere else in the world has success required more preplanning and implementation of the latest technologies. Failure to achieve a seal could have a large impact on the cost of drilling these wells and the operator’s ability to effectively produce the new field. In addition to the cost of the required remedial work, which is easy to quantify, additional costs can be accrued from delays in production delivery, which are harder to quantify. This paper presents case histories from Tierra del Fuego illustrating preplanning methodology, design strategies, and new technology implementations required to make this exploration project a success.