To Give an introduction to

Transocean and our operations in Ghana

Introduce Managed Pressure Drilling

Explain Conventional drilling

Explain Managed Pressure Drilling
Advantages of MPD
MPD Equipment and Rig Considerations
MPD risks and control measures
MPD Rewards
History / Future of MPD

Close with Questions and Discussion

3

MPD
Definition
An adaptive drilling process used to precisely
control the annular pressure profile
throughout the wellbore

International
Association of
Drilling
Contractors
11

Conventional
Surface Eq.
To
Driv
p
e

Shaker
Mud
Pump

Mud Pit

12

Conventional Drilling
Drilling fluid pumped down
string Returns back up
annulus to surface

Drilling fluid provides a barrier against

formation pressure
Blow
Out
Prevent
or

Formati
on
Pressure

To Prevent influx to the wellbore:

Bottom Hole Pressure must be greater than
Formation Pressure

BHP = Phyd + Pcirc

BHP Pf
13

Drilling Window

Theoretical Well Profile with

straight lines

We
ll
Dept
h
Pore
Pressure

Fracture
Pressu
Drilli
re
ng
Windo
w
Pressu
re

Less than
Pore
Pressure =
Influx to
Greater
Wellborethan
Fracture
Pressure
= Breakdown
of formation
ie Fluid
losses
14

While drilling:

Connections
Top Drive,
Rotates and
circulates fluid
through drill

BHP = Phyd + Pcirc

Drill pipes
racked

When stopping circulation for Connections:

BHP = Phyd + Pcirc

Connectio
n

stringstring
We
ll
Dept
h

Fracture
Pressu
re
Bottom
Hole Pore Pressure

Top of drill string

Pressure

Pressu
re

15

Real life well diagram

We
ll
Dept
h
Pore
Pressure
Pressu
re

Fractu
rePressu
re

Narrow
Drilling
Window
Cannot
afford to
loose the
Circulation,
pressure
willfrom
take
an influx
Cannot
increase
mud
break
density,
will
down
formati
on
16

Real life well diagram

Fau
lt

We
ll
Dept
h

Shal
e

San
d

Narro
Drilling
w
Window

This
Well is
Un
Drillable!

Pore
Pressure
Pressu
re

Fracture
Pressu
re

Narrow
Drilling
Window
Cannot
afford to
loose the
pressure
from
Circulation,
will take
Cannot
increase
an influx
mud
break
density,
will
down
formati
on
17

MPD
Can make Previously Un-drillable
wells, Drillable.

Two main reasons:

Constant Circulation
through connections
Pressurised fluid system, back pressure applied
at surface to act through entire system
Constant and Controlled Bottom Hole
Pressure throughout entire
section.
18

Advantages of MPD
Surface Back
Pressure

Drilling with
MPD

Fluid Density
+ Friction
+ back
pressure

We
ll
Dept
h
Static
weight:
Fluid
density

Pressu
re

Drill through
Narrow
Drilling
NoWindows
loss in
Bottom Hole
Pressure
connecti
during
ons
Increased
visibility of
unfavourable
well
conditions
Greater
control of
down bottom
hole pressure19

To

p
MPD
Surface
Eq.
Driv
e

Constant
circulation

Mud Gas
separator

Shaker

3 Part
Telescopic
Joint

Mud Pit

Mud
Pump

RCD
(Rotating Circulating
Device)

Surface
Flow
Spool
Annular
Top of
Marine Riser

Choke
manifold

20

MPD
Equipmen
t
Circulating Subs

Addition to Drill floor

mud manifold
Side entry subs on top
of each drill pipe
stand
Drilling fluid routed
through Side inlet
hose during
connections

Next
of
stand
Drill
pipe

Che
ck
Valv
es
Side
inlet
hos
e

21

MPD Equipment
Rotating circulating device; RCD
Positioned in Marine riser string
near surface
Sealing elements are tight
against drillpipe

Seali
ng
elements
drillpi
seal
around
pe

Beari
ng
rotates
drillpi
with
pe

Elements housed in bearing

which rotates with drillpipe
System is pressurized
below
RCD

Preven
ts
returns
fluid
passing
up the

22

MPD Equipment
Flow Spool, Surface Annular
Flow spool directs returning fluid from annulus
through flexible flow lines
RCD

Surfa
ce
annul
ar
Flow
Spool
Flow
lines
Surface annular in place in case of emergency where
Top
of
Marin
e

annulus pressure may exceed RCD pressure rating.

Annular can be closed to work on RCD while
maintaining pressurised system

23

MPD Equipment
Downstre
Choke
ManifoldCoriol
am fluid
flow

All returns fluid passes

through Choke Manifold

is
mete
r

Hydraulic chokes are where

surface back pressure
is
applied
Coriolis Mass flow meter

Flowli
ne
hose
s

All fluid downstream of

Choke Manifold is
atmospheric pressure

24

Mud Gas Separator, cuttings cleaning

MG
MPD
Equipment
S

If gas is detected in returns fluid,

it is routed through MGS
Gas is vented up to highest
point on rig at tip of derrick
Fluid continues to Shakers
where solids are removed
Everything thereafter is the
same as conventional drilling

25

MPD Equipment
Control and Display system

Flow
In
Flow
Out

Back
Pressu
re

Chok
e
positio
n

26

MPD equipment in moonpool

Rig Considerations
Non MPD moonpool

Choke
Manifold
Telescopic
Joint RCD
Surface
TAnnular
op of Marine
27
Flow
Riser Spool

Rig Considerations
Each rig is unique with different designs and equipment
MPD compatibility is a large scale engineering project

28

Non standard
operation
Rig
Considerations
MPD rig up in moonpool
We introduce new
Operating procedures,
Testing regimes,
Maintenance plans and
Rig up procedures
New to our crews, training
and familiarisation is
essential.
Training helps ensure a
safe and efficient
operation

29

Risks of
MPD &
Controls in
place
No Static flow check

Example Signature tests and trends observed

Downhole problems may

be masked by Constant
Circulation and
Surface
Pressure
Controls:
Signature testing
provides expected
trends
Close monitoring of
trends carried out by
MPD operator

30

Risks of
MPD &
Controls in Surface Back
Pressure
Loss of back pressure
place
Fluid Density
or circulation

Drilling with
MPD

+ Friction

Well will + back

go
underbalance
Influx may be taken

pressure

We

ll
Controls:
Dept
Redundancy
h of

circulating equipment

Two chokes in choke

manifold

Static weight: Fluid density

Pressu
re

Risks of
MPD &
Controls in
Plugging of surface equipment
Controls:
place
Built in redundancy
Flushing points

18
Marin
e

6
Flowlin
es

4
Choke
Manifol
d

6 lines
back to
shakers
32

This is
to
Scale
!!

Rewards of MPDEarly Kick Detection

People

Asse
ts
Environm
ent

33

MPD History

PMC
D
CBH
P

Rig Name

Rig Type

Location

Customer

Year

Application

Status

Trident 8

Jack Up

Cabinda

Gulf

2003

PMCD

Completed

Sedco 601

Semi Sub

Indonesia

Santos

2004

PMCD w/ Surface BOP

Completed

Sedco 601

Semi Sub

Indonesia

Santos

2005 - 2006

PMCD w/ Risercap

Completed

Roger W. Mowell

Jack Up

Malaysia

Talisman

2006 - 2007

CBHP

Completed

Constellation II

Jack Up

Egypt

BP

2007

CBHP, HPHT

Completed

High Island VII

Jack Up

Gabon

Total

2007

CBHP, HPHT

Completed

Deepwater Frontier

DP Drillship

India

Reliance

2007

CBHP, Concentric Riser

Completed

Actinia

Semi Sub

India

Reliance

2008

CBHP, Concentric Riser

Completed

Arctic III

Semi Sub

Libya

ENI

ECD, HPHT, Reconfigurable Riser

Completed

Harvey H. Ward

Jack Up

Malaysia

Talisman

2009

CBHP

Completed

Shelf Explorer

Jack Up

Malaysia

Talisman

2009

CBHP

Completed

Trident IX

Jack Up

Indonesia

Pearl

2010

UBD (Low Head Drilling)

Completed

Sedco 601

Semi Sub

Malaysia

Petronas

2010

CBHP

Completed

GSF Explorer

DP Drillship

Indonesia

MSEC

2010 - 2011

CBHP, PMCD, Riser Degassing

Ongoing

GSF Rig 135

Semi Sub

Nigeria

Addax

2011 - 2012

CBHP, HPHT

Completed

Actinia

Semi Sub

Malaysia

Petronas

2011 - 2012

PMCD w/Risercap

Completed

Marianas

Semi Sub

Ghana

ENI

2012

CBHP, HP

Completed

HH Ward

Jack Up

Indonesia

Pertamina

2012

PMCD

Ongoing

Pressurized Mud Cap

Drilling Constant Bottom
Hole Pressure

2008 - 2009

HPHT High Pressure and High

Temperature UBD
Under Balanced
Drilling

34

MPD Future / CAPM

Constant Annular Pressure Management

CAPM is a Transocean product

Dual Gradient Drilling- Higher density down hole, lighter fluid in marine riser
Closed circulating system for enhanced kick detection

Bending the
Curve in
Deepwater 35