Archive | News
Concentric nitrogen injection technique proved in Southern Mexico
Posted on 17 February 2009 in News
In the mature and severely depleted Samaria field in southern Mexico, a concentric nitrogen injection technique was successfully applied in an MPD well, according to a case history presentation by Corrado Lupo, Schlumberger drilling engineer, during the 2009 IADC/SPE MPD & UBO Conference, on 12 February in San Antonio, Texas.
The formation pressure in the Samaria Field was around 2,200 psi, only about 30% of the original pressure. To achieve the low densities required to drill there, nitrified drilling fluids were used. Wells in the area are historically drilled with high N2 injection through the drill pipe at rates of 150 cu m/min or more. However, the two-phase fluids inside the drill pipe were causing signal loss to MWD pulse telemetry tools. Neither tool face nor formation evaluation data could be obtained while drilling.
Coiled tubing MPD provides cost-effective access to tight gas reservoir
Posted on 17 February 2009 in News
In areas like Alaska and Sharjah, BP had found cost-effective access for infill drilling using managed pressure drilling (MPD) techniques and coiled-tubing drilling (CTD) re-entries. In 2005, they expanded this capability to open up a tight gas reservoir in northeastern Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma. Results proved promising, said Earl Dietrich, drilling engineer with Blade Energy Partners, during a presentation at the 2009 IADC/SPE MPD & UBO Conference.
Development of the Cleveland formation had historically been difficult: There was very tight gas; 950-1,800 psi reservoir pressure; 4%-15% porosity; and 0.003-0.015 mD permeability. It was estimated that only 25% of the original gas in place had been recovered, and a change in development was needed.
MPD reduces NPT in Tizon Field's fractured carbonates
Posted on 17 February 2009 in News
Drilling conventionally through the limestone in the Tizon Field in Southern Mexico’s Chiapas Mesozoic Basin has traditionally been difficult, with problems of differential sticking, simultaneous gas influxes and drilling fluid losses. MPD was then implemented and used to drill through the pay zone. This allowed the team to reduce problems associated with the narrow mud weight window and to increase safety while drilling H2S-bearing formations, according to Leiro Medina, tech services engineer with Optimal Pressure Drilling Services, during a presentation at the 2009 IADC/SPE MPD & UBO Conference.
The objective was to extract hydrocarbon from the Kimmeridgian Superior Jurassic (JSK) rocks, and the section was drilled in a 6 ½-in. hole from 6,197 m to 6,520 m MD.
IADC UBO & MPD Committee to reorganize
Posted on 17 February 2009 in News
The IADC Underbalanced Operations & Managed Pressure Drilling Committee will reorganize its subcommittee structure to better reflect current priorities and work objectives, the group decided during its first quarterly meeting of 2009, held in San Antonio, Texas, on 10-11 February.
“This new structure will streamline the committee’s various activities and projects and will better utilize the group’s technical expertise,” remarked committee chairman Don Reitsma, At Balance Americas. “It will also focus on recruiting additional participation from companies utilizing these important technologies.”
January/February 2009 Drilling Contractor now available online!
Posted on 17 February 2009 in News
The January/February 2009 edition of Drilling Contractor, the only magazine exclusively dedicated to drilling and completion, is now available online. The online edition offers exclusive web features not available in the print version.
Now available for download in both PDF and HTML formats.
The January/February DC explores multiple topics:
- • Critical Issues in Drilling & Completions
- • Health, Safety & Environment
- • Managed Pressure Drilling & Underbalanced Operations
- • 2009 SPE/IADC Drilling Conference
- • 2009 IADC Officers
Click here to view the latest issue!
Petroleum Development Oman crowns 'PlaySafe' champions
Posted on 17 February 2009 in News
The winning team from Abraj Energy’s Rig 43 scored 16,832 goals during 2008 as part of PDO’s “PlaySafe” Football League.
Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) held an awards ceremony on 19 January in Muscat to recognize the winners of its 2008 “PlaySafe” Football League. The league is an innovative year-long competition combining an array of HSE metrics into a scheme where rig crew “teams” score “goals” for safe work practices and HSE accomplishments. Team winners are recognized with the “PlaySafe” League Cup and incident-free rigs with the “Goal Zero” Cup.
“No job is too important that it can’t be done safely,” remarked Eamon Gorman, PDO’s director of well engineering, who presided over the ceremony with Ray Corbett, HSE team leader. The “PlaySafe” League was started in 2007 and has grown to include more than 7,500 field personnel.
Sneak Preview: Regulator: Asset integrity responsibilities must be shared among stakeholders
Posted on 17 February 2009 in News
The State Supervision of Mines (SSM) of the Netherlands is urging the drilling industry to improve on several aspects of asset integrity – design, technical and operational – with the increasing age of industry infrastructure creating a sense of urgency, the regulators say in an article in the upcoming March/April issue of Drilling Contractor.
On design integrity, results from a 2008 SSM stakeholder survey triggered worry over the continuing occurrence of serious accidents due to the use of non-inherently safe drilling equipment. “The challenge for the drilling industry is to insist on inherently safe design measures in rig equipment,” the article says.
Industry gears up for 2009 Drilling Conference
Posted on 05 February 2009 in News
The economy is putting a squeeze on the oil and gas industry – and that only makes this year’s SPE/IADC Drilling Conference all the more valuable, said conference chairman Walter Simpson, BG Group general manager – operations & well engineering. “When times are tough, getting new ideas is even more important because that’s when we can really make a difference to our performance,” he said.
“The Drilling Conference gives the industry a chance to pick up innovative ideas, different perspectives, and learn what other people are doing. … The types of opportunities that you can generate from a conference like this are more important than ever,” he added.
Bob Bloom, NOV, is 2010 Drilling Conference chairman
Posted on 05 February 2009 in News
Bob Bloom, National Oilwell Varco senior VP & chief technology officer, has been named chairman of the 2010 IADC/SPE Drilling Conference. He will be the first Drilling Conference chairman representing an equipment manufacturing company and only the second non-operator/non-drilling contractor chairman.
Farell Moughon, Pride, recognized for committee leadership
Posted on 05 February 2009 in News
IADC president Dr Lee Hunt presented a plaque to Farell Moughon, Pride International HSE manager, in recognition of his service as 2007-08 chairman of the IADC HSE Committee, on the opening day of the 2009 IADC Health, Safety, Environment & Training Conference on 3 February in Houston.
In accepting his award, Mr Moughon noted that finding ways to motivate and encourage rig personnel to overcome their fears – any kind of fear that could derail safety – is a perennial challenge. Fear can lead to unsafe conditions, which in turn can lead to incidents or high-potential near-misses. “It’s a continuous daily effort,” he said.
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