HPHT Narrow Drilling Margins

Conventional HPHT (High Pressure - High Temperature) conditions (>10,000 psi and 300º F) are becoming routine drilling targets in many basins worldwide, as exploration and production examine deeper and hotter objectives. Such conditions frequently involve narrow “drilling windows”, where the balance between formation pressure, fracture pressure and mudweights are critical. Ultra-HPHT and Extreme-HPHT conditions are the next frontier and will require additional technology for success. This course will equip participants with knowledge of HPHT conditions and their prediction, the data components required for well planning and issues which influence successful drilling in such conditions, and their cost implications.

Session 1: Introduction

• White-Board Exercise – what are the problems associated with HPHT & Narrow Margin Drilling?
• What is a Well Plan?
• Typical environments where HPHT/NM drilling currently occurs
• Deep-Water (HP)
• Deep Shelf Gas (HT)

Session 2: Mechanisms

• Low temperature vs. High temperature
• Velocity vs. Density cross-plotting

Session 3: Pore Pressure Prediction

• Disequilbrium Compaction

 - High pressure environments
 - Narrow margin

• Fluid expansion

 - Bowers (1994)

• Load Transfer

 - Re-load models (Lahann, 2001, 2002)
 - Burial history models (Lange Formation, Mid Norway, 2008)

Session 4: Fracture Pressure Models

• Review of current approaches

 - Poissons' Ratio
 - Stress Ratio
 - Uncertainty in defining the drilling window

Session 5: Exploration Implications of Elevated Pressures & Temperatures

• High Pressure (seal breach, migration)
• High Temperature (oil vs. gas, mechanisms, reservoir quality)

Session 6: Revisit the White Board

Session 1: Introduction

• Planning management - decision gates
• Legislation (HS & E) for HPHT wells
• Lead times / costs for well design
• Risk mitigation (setting achievable objectives)

Session 2a: PP / FG - Operating within narrow boundaries

• Definitions
• Well control (balloning/kicks, fluid loss etc.)
• Borehole stability & hole condition/quality
• Gas events (types & behaviour)
• Pressure control (kick procedures)
• Discussion

Session 2b: Drilling Success - The Narrow Margin Toolkit

• Narrow Margin vs. Conventional Drilling

  - Mud types (optimum for hole section)
  - Logging
  - ‘D’ Exponent etc.

• Casing & cementing design
• Production
• Interventions

Session 3: Operation Risk Mitigation in NMHP/HT

• Interpreting Leak-Off data
• Stress enhancement
• Managed Pressure Drilling
• Typical PP/FG patterns & their interpretations / solutions

Session 4 Risk Exercise (Bow Tie)

• Bow Tie method of risks, mitigations & consequences

Session 5 Discussion & Course Wrap Up

The HPHT Drilling Narrow margins course is jointly taught by Steve O’Connor of Ikon GeoPressure and Steve Walters and Eric Low of Think-Well.

This course is designed for geologist, geophysicists, for those involved in well-planning, reservoir/drilling engineers who work in environments where HPHT and or narrow drilling margin conditions are likely. Due to the specialized content of this course it is recommended that candidates have attended our Pressures and Overpressure in the Subsurface course, or a similar pressure-related course or have a good working knowledge of oilfield practices, well planning or drilling practice.

This is a 2 day course.

If you are interested in attending this course, please complete our Training Enquiry Form.