MPD automation addresses drilling challenges in conventional, unconventional resources

摘要

WHEN NEW TECHNOLOGY and processes are applied in increasingly challenging fields to evaluate, identify, drill and produce more oil and gas, the entire industry benefits through greater knowledge of complex resources, more production from less footage drilled, increased recovery from low permeability reservoirs, and decreased finding and development costs. Now, new managed pressure drilling (MPD) technology is contributing to the value chain. Constant bottomhole pressure (BHP) is enabling operators to drill conventional and unconventional resources with less risk and cost by eliminating the damaging pressure fluctuations that are unavoidable with heavy overbalanced drilling. Managed pressure drilling refers to a collection of drilling processes designed to control the annular pressure of a well while drilling. The key word is control - probably the single most empowering feature of any new technology. Gaining control over annular pressure empowers operators to set the limits of BHP and to actively manage it while drilling, while stuck in the hole, during connections, trips and even during well control events.