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to participate as lecturers.
Slim Hole Technology

Roger Hough
Shell Canada
This presentation will:
 Give an overview of slim hole
technology
 Define why it is only now gathering
momentum
 Provide some case histories
 Explore the prospects for the future
Slim Hole Technology

 What is slim hole?

 Types of slim hole drilling
 Why slim hole?
 Problems and solutions
What is Slim Hole?
 SHDEC: Drilling , evaluation and
completion technology which allows fully
engineered 6 1/4" and smaller holes at TD.
 Slimline well: Well with a cost-effective
design around an optimal production
conduit.
 Logging: Anything smaller than 4 3/4", or
minimum 2 7/8". Tool OD 2 1/4"
Types of slim hole drilling:
 Shallow Rotary
 Continuous coring
 Downsized Conventional
 Combination
 Small horizontal sidetracks
 Coiled tubing drilling
Why Slim Hole?

 Exploration in immature areas

 Exploration in mature areas
 Production applications
 High pressure / temperature wells
 Safety
 Environmental
 Logistics
 Economics
Why Slim Hole?

 Exploration in immature areas

 Exploration in mature areas
 Production applications
 High pressure / temperature wells
 Safety
 Environmental
 Logistics
 Economics
Why Slim Hole?

 Exploration in immature areas

 Exploration in mature areas
 Production applications
 High pressure / temperature wells
 Safety
 Environmental
 Logistics
 Economics
Why Slim Hole?

 Exploration in immature areas

 Exploration in mature areas
 Production applications
 High pressure / temperature wells
 Safety
 Environmental
 Logistics
 Economics
Completion Technology

3
/
20” 10 4 “

5/
13
3
/8 “ 7 8“ L

1 PBR tie-back
3 /
“ tubing
2

1
Rotating liner
5/
9 8“ 5 / “L
2 hanger

7”
Conventional Monobore
Monobore Toolkit
Restriction Full bore

High rate jet cleaner

Jet cleaner Packer flow meter

PLT
Full-bore CT mill

Under reamer
Straddle packer

Retrievable straddle
TTBP
Electro line set bridge plug
Typical 3 1/2” monobore completion
Standard 3 1/2” flow
control equipment
with 2.813 seal bore ID

Side pocket mandrels

with 2.813” seal bore ID
Liner hanger complete
5 1/2” 17 lb/ft with tubing tieback
production casing
Retrievable straddle

Retrievable or
permanent bridge plug
3 1/2” 9.2 lb/ft
production liner
Slim hole producers

 A 3 1/2” monobore can produce 4000 b/d

or 50MMscf/d
 Downsizing a completion from 7” to 3 1/2”
can reduce well costs by 15-40%
 Production Rate vs Tubing Size
100000 100
50000 50

25000 25
Wet
Gross 10000 10 Gas
Rate
Rate
b/d 5000 MMscf/d

2500

1000

500

20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 mm

3 1/2” 4 1/2” 5 1/2” 7” inch
Well Productivity vs Diameter
1.
1
1.05

1.0
Relative PI
0.95

0.9

0.85
0 5 10 15 20
Bit Diameter (inches)
Slim hole producers
 For Shell’s existing reservoirs on a
worldwide basis:
– 40% of the oil originally in place would be
produced by existing technology
– 20% would be bypassed
– 20% would be residual oil saturation
 Recovery of half the remaining oil would
increase recoverable reserves by 50%.
Why Slim Hole?

 Exploration in immature areas

 Exploration in mature areas
 Production applications
 High pressure / temperature wells
 Safety
 Environmental
 Logistics
 Economics
Why Slim Hole?

 Exploration in immature areas

 Exploration in mature areas
 Production applications
 High pressure / temperature wells
 Safety
 Environmental
 Logistics
 Economics
Why Slim Hole?

 Exploration in immature areas

 Exploration in mature areas
 Production applications
 High pressure / temperature wells
 Safety
 Environmental
 Logistics
 Economics
Why Slim Hole?

 Exploration in immature areas

 Exploration in mature areas
 Production applications
 High pressure / temperature wells
 Safety
 Environmental
 Logistics
 Economics
Why Slim Hole?

 Exploration in immature areas

 Exploration in mature areas
 Production applications
 High pressure / temperature wells
 Safety
 Environmental
 Logistics
 Economics
Problems and Solutions
 Problem Solution
 Cementing Enhanced liners, improved slurries
 Fishing Fishing tools
 Drillstring failures Vibration mitigation, high
torque drillstring
 Well control Accurate flow in / out measurement
 Limited evaluation Slim hole logging and testing
tools
 Small clearances, Shear thinning fluids / high
ECDs, hole formates, thruster to problems
replace DC
 Bit life, poor PDC bits, anti-whirl bits, penetration
rate
Problems and Solutions
 Problem Solution
 Cementing Enhanced liners, improved slurries
 Fishing Fishing tools
 Drillstring failures Vibration mitigation, high
torque drillstring
 Well control Accurate flow in / out measurement
 Limited evaluation Slim hole logging and testing
tools
 Small clearances, Shear thinning fluids / high
ECDs, hole formates, thruster to problems
replace DC
 Bit life, poor PDC bits, anti-whirl bits, penetration
rate
Slim hole fluid pressure drops
0

Formate mud

3 1/2” DP

Chalk mud
7”
2 7/8” DP
5”
5000 m
4 1/8” Bit 0 250 bar
Problems and Solutions
 Problem Solution
 Cementing Enhanced liners, improved slurries
 Fishing Fishing tools
 Drillstring failures Vibration mitigation, high
torque drillstring
 Well control Accurate flow in / out measurement
 Limited evaluation Slim hole logging and testing
tools
 Small clearances, Shear thinning fluids / high
ECDs, hole formates, thruster to problems
replace DC
 Bit life, poor PDC bits, anti-whirl bits, penetration
rate
Problems and Solutions
 Problem Solution
 Cementing Enhanced liners, improved slurries
 Fishing Fishing tools
 Drillstring failures Vibration mitigation, high
torque drillstring
 Well control Accurate flow in / out measurement
 Limited evaluation Slim hole logging and testing
tools
 Small clearances, Shear thinning fluids / high
ECDs, hole formates, thruster to problems
replace DC
 Bit life, poor PDC bits, anti-whirl bits, penetration
rate
Kick detection system
BNP
SPM
SPP P Computer Alarm
Flow in

Flow out

Max

Min

P
BOP
Problems and Solutions
 Problem Solution
 Cementing Enhanced liners, improved slurries
 Fishing Fishing tools
 Drillstring failures Vibration mitigation, high
torque drillstring
 Well control Accurate flow in / out measurement
 Limited evaluation Slim hole logging and testing
tools
 Small clearances, Shear thinning fluids / high
ECDs, hole formates, thruster to problems
replace DC
 Bit life, poor PDC bits, anti-whirl bits, penetration
rate
Standard Thruster
Hookload
Drillpipe
No thruster
Drillcollars

Thruster
Thruster
Mud Motor in use

Bit
Soft Torque Rotary Table

SCR

Rotary

Drive
motor
Drillpipe
Field Validation of MKII STRS

ON Time = 60s
Problems and Solutions
 Problem Solution
 Cementing Enhanced liners, improved slurries
 Fishing Fishing tools
 Drillstring failures Vibration mitigation, high
torque drillstring
 Well control Accurate flow in / out measurement
 Limited evaluation Slim hole logging and testing
tools
 Small clearances, Shear thinning fluids / high
ECDs, hole formates, thruster to problems
replace DC
 Bit life, poor PDC bits, anti-whirl bits, penetration
rate
Problems and Solutions
 Problem Solution
 Cementing Enhanced liners, improved slurries
 Fishing Fishing tools
 Drillstring failures Vibration mitigation, high
torque drillstring
 Well control Accurate flow in / out measurement
 Limited evaluation Slim hole logging and testing
tools
 Small clearances, Shear thinning fluids / high
ECDs, hole formates, thruster to problems
replace DC
 Bit life, poor PDC bits, anti-whirl bits, penetration
rate
Integration is important
mwd pump strokes
p
mud viscosity GPM
pd pda
mud density

mud temperature
pc pca

pt ecd

pm dp RPM
WOB
torque
pb bit TFA
bit aggressiveness
Case Histories - Exploration

BP - West Africa
Slim Hole Well Configuration
3
20 in 10 /4 in
conductor cond

17 1 /2
9
7
/
8

1/
12 4
6
3
/8

1
8 /
2
4.8

6 Reservoir 3.8
3000 m SPE/IADC 25724
 Slim Hole Wellsite
Environmental Impact

Slimhole
60 m
site
120 m
75 m

Conventional site
150m
•Hole diameters reduced by 50%
•Mud consumption and cuttings reduced by 75%
•Site reduced by 75%
•Overall costs reduced between 40% and 50%
SPE/IADC 25724
Case Histories - Exploration

Guatemala
Positive Learnings
 Lower day rate
 Lower material costs
 Lower location preparation costs
 Lower Mob/ demob costs
 Less waste disposal
 Smaller crew
Negative Learnings
 Poor hydraulics
 High ECDs - unable to get desired mud
weight
 Hole erosion due to high annular velocities
 Limited choice of bits
 Non standard tools
 3 1/2” logging tools unsuitable for 4 1/4” hole
Case Histories - Exploration

Madagascar
Madagascar
Slim vs Conventional
MDZ-1 MDS-1 5/
9 8“

7”

5”

2500m 8.1/2” 2200m 4.1/4”

Cost 100% 60%
Madagascar Cost Comparisons

12

$US 8
millions

0
Well 1 Well 2 Well 3 Slim-hole
well
Positive Learnings
 Reduced tonnage, location, construction work
and waste material
 Reduced driving hazards (1/2 the trucks)
 Reduced environmental impact
 Kick detection - 20L detected
 Antivibration technology -> gauge 4 1/4” hole
 Good quality logs
Negative Learnings
 Assorted rig packages
 5000 psi design - 3600psi available
 Bit TFA too high - bit selection poor
 Mud pump used for cementing
Case Histories - Production

Germany
 Field Experience Retrofit SHD
5/
24 2”
1
/ 18 “
8 13 3 /8“

5
18
5/
8 ” 13 3 /8“ 9 /8
“

5
13 3
”
/8 9 “
/8
7“L

5
9 /8
“ 7”L 5” L
7/ 1
8 2“ 5 “ 4 /8“
1
/
8
5000 m
1
7”L OH 5”L OH 3 /2“ L OH
Well costs 100% 75% 60%
Cuttings volume 100% 60% 30%
Case Histories - Production

House
Mountain
Hole Geometry

25 deg/30 m

2120m
7
3 /
8 “
565 m
Where is slim-hole going?
 Slim hole technologies are proven and
reliable.
 The industry is beginning to embrace
slim hole - first operators and service
companies, now the drilling contractors.
 A start can be made with retrofit systems
before committing to a dedicated rig.
 New applications are emerging.
New Applications
 Coiled tubing drilling
– Ultra Short Radius Jetting
– Underbalanced drilling
– Expandable Tubulars
– Coiled Tubing Completions
 Dedicated Slim Hole Rigs
 Typical slim hole casing schemes
10.3/4"
or 10.3/4" 3.1/2"
8.3/4" - 8.3/8" 12.1/4" or
9.5/8” Tubing
7" 9.5/8” Monobore
6.1/4" - 5.7/8" 9.7/8" - 8.3/8"
5" 7.5/8" - 7" 7.5/8" - 7"
6.3/4" - 5.3/4"
4.1/4" - 4.1/8"
5.1/2" - 5" 5.1/2" - 5"
3.1/2"

4.3/4" - 4.1/8"
2.7/8" - 2.5/8" 3.1/2"
4" - 3.1/2"

3.3/8" - 2.5/8"
2.7/8" - 2.5/8"
BHI SH
manual RE-ENTRY EXPLORATION DEVELOPMENT / PRODUCTION
Case Histories - Production

Peace River
New Generation Slim Hole
Rigs

 Euroslim (Forasol / Elf / Total / DBS)

 Simpler (Sedco-Forex)
 Kenting Rig 11
 Hybrid CT units
Slim Hole Wellsite -
the shrinkage continues
Simpler
16.5
44 32m
Foraslim 60 m
26m

Slimhole 120 m

75 m

Conventional site

150 m
Multidisciplinary Crew
 Rig Team 8 (15)
 Maintenance Team 3 (5)
 MWD / Logging 1 (3)
 Total 13 (23)

 Conventional Operations (40)

Next Steps
 Good planning and integration of a slim-hole
campaign is needed with all parties.
 Design the well from inside out.
 Compromises may be needed, but the result
should be better information for less cost, reduced
finding / lifting costs, increased reserves, better
safety and S.D.
 Slim hole is coming - it’s up to oil company and
contractor alike to benefit from it.