Extreme Deepwater Wells Push Drillers to Begin Using Managed-Pressure Methods

摘要

Dual-gradient drilling has long been described as the drilling method of the future for challenging offshore wells. Now there are indications that it could start being used with some regularity, with multiple-well campaigns possible as early as next year. This method of managed-pressure drilling has been used a handful of times on a floating drilling rig, mostly to precisely manage the pressure in wells while drilling in weak, low-pressure formations prone to major fluid losses. Currently, Chevron and Statoil are seeking to use the system for deep, difficult, high-pressure formations in the US Gulf of Mexico.