Reducing Deepwater Drilling Costs Part 2—Riser Dilution and Cost Comparisons

摘要

This article will focus on liquid dilution of fluids in the riser as an alternative means for achieving a dual-gradient system as well as the expected costs savings that would result from using riser gas lift or liquid dilution instead of conventional drilling methods. These two methods are referred to as dual-density because the fluid density in the riser is different than that in the well. This article supplements part one of the series, which described the rationale for dual-density drilling and the investigation of riser gas lift as one mechanism for achieving a dual-gradient system.