Managed Pressure Drilling Exceeds 15,000 ft in Challenging North Sea Well, Opens Access to Significant Production Potential

Enhance drilling efficiency through early kick, influx, and loss detection.
Ensure safe management of potential surface gas event.
Drill through high-temperature, unconventional Lulu & Byrne formations.
Utilize constant bottomhole pressure (CBHP) during managed pressure drilling (MPD) to achieve total depth (TD) and complete the 8 1/2-in. reservoir section.
Address a narrow drilling window, effectively preventing and managing known hole stability challenges under both dynamic and static conditions.
Minimize the risk of differential sticking.
Maintain CBHP while assessing formation pressure and fluid sampling.

Weatherford engineers conducted a preliminary engineering assessment of the operator's well data to evaluate the feasibility of implementing MPD techniques.
The MPD system rapidly reacted to pressure fluctuations, and the constant bottomhole pressure application mitigated gas at the surface.

The MPD choke adjustments effectively offset the impact of high temperatures on drilling fluid density, preventing influxes in both dynamic and static conditions.
The fully automated MPD system enabled fluid sampling while eliminating the need for redundant increases in mud weight, thereby reducing the risk of differential sticking.
The MPD system allowed the operator to drill to TD and access a reservoir with substantial potential for production and profitability.

Details

Location

Denmark

Formation

Sandstone

Well Type

Offshore, Exploratory

Field

Harald East Middle Jurassic

Hole Size

8-1/2 in. (21.59 cm)

Liner Size

7 in., (17.78 cm)

Temperature

329°/140°F (165°/60°C) (on surface with mud coolers)

Pressure

10,310 psi (71 MPa)

Measure Depth

15,170 ft (4,623 m)

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Managed Pressure Drilling