Managed Pressure Drilling Influx Management: A Comprehensive Analysis of IME, MPD Operations Matrix, Dynamic Kick Tolerance Concepts, and Parameter Sensitivity

Abstract

Abstract Implementation of Managed Pressures Drilling (MPD) techniques provide substantial advantages for addressing difficulties in challenging wells. These benefits include not only the early influx and loss detection, but also Dynamic Influx Management. MPD provides the ability to circulate out an influx at drilling circulation rates while remaining within the primary well control barrier. Dynamic influx management is a trending topic within the industry, with its importance capturing the attention of planning and operational teams, regulatory bodies, and industry interest groups tasked with the development of recommended practices. Evolving from conventional kick tolerance to MPD kick tolerance has enabled dynamic influx management milestones, such as the adoption of the MPD operational matrix. More recently, the novel approach of the Influx Management Envelope (IME) has been increasingly adopted by the industry. This paper presents the state-of-the-art engineering analysis and operational considerations for dynamic influx management during MPD operations. As part of an integrated approach, this work considers three main aspects; 1) MPD kick tolerance, including concepts and its variables of interest, 2) IME generation and parameter sensitivity analysis, 3) generation of an MPD operational matrix. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of various approaches to determining the limits of dynamic influx circulation are discussed.