Subsea

Petroleum Engineering 628

Mudlift
Horizontal Drilling Drilling

( SMD )

Lesson 21 Note Pump

SMD Well Control and Return
Line

1 2

Contents - Kick Detection & Well Control

- Review - Conventional -

g Kick Indication (what is a KICK?)

g Review of Conventional Well Control
g Kick Detection (confirmation)
g Kick Detection in SMD
g Kick containment (stop flow into well)
g Kick containment in SMD
g Circulate Kick out of hole
g Well Control in SMD
g Increase Mud Weight in hole (if necessary)
3 4

Circulate Kick out of hole Circulate Old Mud out of hole

Keep the BHP constant throughout 5

Keep the BHP constant throughout 6
 Subsea Mudlift Drilling System Kick Detection and Control
700
FLOATER Kick Detected - - Slow down Seafloor Pump

Circulation Rate, gal/min

690
Surface Pump: Constant Rate ~SEAWATER
Mudlift: Const. Inlet Press. HYDROSTATIC 680
PRESSURE 10,000’
Kick begins
SEAFLOOR PUMP
SEAFLOOR 670
BOP MUDLIFT
SURFACE PUMP
660
30,000’
650

640
-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30
KICK
Time, minutes
A TM 7 A TM 8

700
Kick Detection and Control
Kick Detected - - Slow down Seafloor Pump
Kick Detection and Control
Circulation Rate, gal/min
690

680
Kick begins SEAFLOOR PUMP
670
SURFACE PUMP
660
Influx has stopped and
650
pressures have stabilized
640
-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50
Time, minutes

A TM 9 A TM 10

Standpipe Pressure vs. Time Surface Choke Pressure vs. Time

5,000
Start circulating kick out of hole 1,400
Conventional Top of kick at surface
4,000 1,200
Pressure, psi

Start circulating
kick out
Pressure, psi

Kill mud enters top of drillpipe 1,000

3,000
800
Kill mud enters annulus
Kill mud at bit SICP
2,000 600 SIDPP

SMD 400 CONVENTIONAL

1,000
200
Kick out of return line
0 0
0 200 400 600 800 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700

Time, minutes Time, minutes

A TM 11 A TM 12
 Pit Gain vs. Time Pressure at the Sea Floor vs. Time
70 8,000
Conventional
Pit Volume Gain, bbls

60 SMD 7,000

Pressure, psi
Kick at seafloor Kill mud
50 6,000
at seafloor
5,000
40 Pressure at inlet to Mudlift System
4,000 SMD
30 Start circulating kick out
3,000
20 2,000 Kill mud enters annulus
Conventional
10 1,000
0 0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 0 200 400 600 800
Time, minutes Time, minutes

A TM 13 A TM 14

Kick Detection Method Still Valid for RD? Well Control Summary
Pit Gain Still valid
g Most Conventional kick detection methods
Flow Rate Increase (Returns) Much Better
are still valid
Well Flows With Rig Pump Off … U-tubing ...
Fluid Fill -up on Trips … More complicated g New differential flow rate method -
Increased Hook Load Still Valid
better - use with computer monitoring
Drop in Standpipe Pressure Better g Lower standpipe pressure makes kick
Drop in BHP - MWD Still Valid detection easier and faster
Drilling Break Still valid g Conventional well control can be adapted
Decreased Mud Weight (Gas Cut) Still valid - with modifications
A TM 15 A TM 16

Well Control Summary cont’d General Summary

Riserless Drilling is a method that offers
g Not necessary to shut well in … potential for lowering drilling costs in very deep
waters.
g Seafloor pump controls the BHP
(fewer casing strings, smaller rigs,
g Surface choke pressure generally less time on location)
does not affect wellbore pressures
The method utilizes one or more small-diameter
g Well control training will be essential !! return lines from the seafloor to the surface. The
drillpipe is not inside a return line.
A TM 17 A TM 18
 Summary - cont’d
A “mudlift” system is used in the return line
thereby making a “dual-density” mud system
possible.
Wellhead pressure is maintained at seawater
hydrostatic, so well is “dead” at all times
THE END
Well control is quite similar to that in
conventional drilling with a riser
- There are some real advantages:
higher margins, choke line ∆P, etc.
A TM 19 A TM 20

U-Tubing in SMD Static Pressures - SMD

FLOATER ANNULUS AND RETURN LINE
DRILLSTRING PRESSURE
~SEAWATER
HYDROSTATIC SEAFLOOR
STATIC PRESSURE
FLUID
LEVEL
BOP MUDLIFT
DEPTH

SEA WATER
HYDROSTATIC
PRESSURE

PRESSURE
A TM 21 A TM 22