ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Lesson 17 Flow Drilling Mudcap Drilling Snub Drilling Closed Systems Read: UDM Chapter pages

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Flow Drilling Flow drilling refers to drilling operations in which the well is allowed to flow to surface while drilling. All UBD operations are really flow drilling operations, but the term is usually applied to drilling with a single phase mud, and no gas is injected except by the formation.

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Drilling fluid selection Density is determined by: –maximum pressure <= to formation pressure –minimum pressure dictated by wellbore stability Pressure limitations of diverter and BOP equipment

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Surface Equipment

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Surface Equipment

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Surface Equipment

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Surface Equipment - RBOP

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Surface Equipment - RBOP sealing element

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Surface Equipment

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Sizing Flare line

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Sizing Flare line

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Sizing Flare line

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Sizing Flare line

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Surface Pits Primary Oil Separation Pit Secondary Oil Separation Pit Skimmer System Safety Drilling Fluid Pit Oil Transfer Tank

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Operating Procedures Mechanical objective is to control the well at the surface to maintain underbalanced conditions. Maximum tolerable surfaces pressures should be established before drilling starts.

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Mudcap Drilling Utilized with uncontrollable loss of circulation during flowdrilling operations. Higher pressures than can be safely handled with the rotating head or RBOP. Not necessarily underbalanced.

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Mudcap Drilling Driller loads the annulus with a relatively high density high viscosity mud and closes the choke with surface pressure maintained Drilling is then continued “blind” by pumping a clear non-damaging fluid down the drillstring through the bit and into the thief zone.

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Mudcap Drilling Applications: –Sustained surface pressures in excess of 2000 psi –Sour oil and gas production –Small diameter wellbores

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Mudcap drilling

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Fluid Volume Requirements

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Fluid Volume Requirements

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Fluid Volume Requirements Annular volumes will depend upon whether the operator desires continuous or periodic injection of annular fluids or whether a floating mudcap is to be used.

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Fluid Volume Requirements

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Fluid Volume Requirements

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Fluid Volume Requirements

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Snub Drilling UBD operation utilizing a snubbing unit or coiled tubing unit. Expense is justifiable if very high formation pressures are anticipated, and uncontrollable loss of circulation is expected.

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Closed Systems Refers to UBD operations with a specific surface system. A pressurized, four phase separator and a fully closed surface system, is used to handle the returned fluids.

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Fig. 2.70

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Fig. 2.71

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Fig. 2.72

ATMATM PETE 689 UBD ATMATM ATMATMATMATM Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Other Surface Equipment Cuttings Filter Heater Degasser Flare Stack/Pit Production Tank Water Tank Solids Tank Instrumentation