Narrow Margin Drilling in Deepwater: Solution Concepts

Abstract

Abstract Drilling operations are conducted within a pressure window bounded on the lower side by the pressure of the formation fluids exposed in the open hole and on the upper side by the fracture resistance of the formation matrix. The narrowing of this operating margin, as experienced in deepwater environments, increases the technical challenges associated with drilling operations. Typical challenges include a sharp reduction in the maximum allowable open hole drilled depth, well control and exposure to difficult kicks, well breathing or ballooning, the risk of wellbore losses and a requirement to install multiple casing strings to get to TD. This paper examines the phenomenon of narrow margins in deepwater, the conditions that drive it, and presents a holistic assessment of the available geological, geophysical, engineering and technology solutions for mitigating narrow margin drilling (NMD) conditions. The solution concepts are indexed into a newly developed model called the NMD Solutions Matrix which introduces an NMD intensity scale that provides a measure of the degree of difficulty that can be expected in a well as a result of narrow margin conditions. The applicability of the model is demonstrated in a history match of three industry case examples in two deepwater regions in the world where NMD conditions were encountered and mitigated. The NMD solutions matrix was also applied to a DW project in the planning phase which yielded insights that more clearly articulated the exposure in the project. The analyses indicate that the model, as a planning tool, has the potential to sharpen the awareness of possible challenges and enable upfront mitigation measures to reduce their impact during execution. Its application thus offers strong potential to positively impact drilling effectiveness in deepwater and yield or save considerable value in these high cost operations