The Future -Drill to Limit Systems

Deepwater operations are the most expensive in the oil and gas industry, spread rates for rigs are in the order of 1 to 2 million dollars per day. Maintenance and operation of offshore rigs are expensive also labor costs are on the rise.  The oil & gas industry due to the oil price roller coaster caused that experienced personnel be scarce and difficult to recruit and retain.

Current tendency is the development of drill to limit systems that is a combination of Underbalance UB drilling, Manage Pressure Drilling MPD and conventional drilling. The idea is to use slightly underbalance fluid mud weights and compensate at surface with back pressure on special automatic choke when mud pumps are off.

For subsea mud pumps same concept is achieved with subsea chokes and dual gradient equipment and procedures. The main driver is to reduce casing strings achieving bigger completion equipment diameters assuring higher production rates.

The development of new technologies require to follow stringent processes of proper acceptance and integration tests prior to deployment. Is important to have the assurance that the equipment and personnel will perform as designed and planned at the rig site.

Is not recommended to accelerate deployment of new technology on the field since if troubleshoot is necessary rig time will be consumed pushing the deployment to the exit door in a short time.

The training and competency of the drill to limit systems by the drilling crew, service company personnel and Drilling Engineers involved is key for the success of the operation. It requires a basic understanding of fluid mechanics and well control rig mathematics.

See ya!

Driller