REVELATIONS IN DRILLING

A REVIEW OF MODERN CONCEPTION IN DRILLING

JAGANATH RAVI, LOKESH . S
RAJIV GANDHI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, B-Tech PETROLEUM ENGINEERING

INTRODUCTION As reservoirs age, drilling hazards such as deplet-

ton, attached to the drillstring downhole, separates

n
dual-gradient annular drilling fluid and aids in pres-
Drilling began early in 1859 exclusively to obtain rock ed zones with pressure transitions and hole stabil-

o
i iu s
sure/traction control. An optional liner can be insert-
oil and since then ceaseless progress in the techno- ity problems become more prevalent. These issues

s
ed while drilling and expanded downhole during the
.
logical advancement to extract more crude and/or gas

r
lead to increase in more drilling time. Additionally,

same run.

e er
have developed. In the intensions of more extraction, conventional methods used to control lost circulation

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deep wells have to be drilled in order to reach a larger

V
such as mud additives, pumping cement plugs, ce- The problems such as inefficient WOB by gravity,
area from one surface drilling location, and to keep a
G e
l
menting, and resins can also be time consuming, cost- stuck pipe, use of high volume drilling fluids dur-

t
a
well in a reservoir for a longer distance to maximize its ly, and often ineffective.Instead of fighting these tra-
s
ing ERD is eliminated with this mordern tech-

i
productivity and drainage capability.(Extended reach
P o
r
ditional problems with conventional treatments, the nique.

o f
T
drilling,ERD) relatively new casing with drilling improves drilling Also new platforms and subsea tiebacks are

i o n
efficiency and ultimately increases depth of drilling in avoided.
s
The problems that occur with conventional drilling in Chart illustrating how coiled tubing drilling is faster than joint-
r

e
ed pipe cost effective manner reducing non-productive time Extending drainage area makes it possible to
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ERD are inefficient hole cleaning, managing the me-

s
l
(NPT). lengthen the life of existing fields.
i a
chanical loads on the drill string managing downhole
r
i u T
pressure, cost for drilling and precious time causing
DRILLING WITH CASING
a OBSERVATION & CONCLU-

n
h
less benifits in profit. These problems have been tack-
DUAL DRILL STRING TECH-
i t
e e
The other main technique that attracted its usage as
w
led effectivly by many industries none more success- SION
NOLOGY (DDST)
d
G
ful than the implementation of Coil tubing drilling, an aid for drilling long distance wells is the drilling-
t e The analysis of the contents has brought about the fol-

r
Casing with drilling and Dual drill string technology.
a
with-casing (DwC) technique. Drilling-with-casing

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Among many developments the one that evolved in

e sb
lowing conclusions:
c
(DwC) system eliminates the need to trip pipe and all level of conception and can also be considered as

s t e n bottomhole assemblies (BHAs), increasing drilling the drilling technique of present and the future is the Progressive advancement seen in the drilling tech-
COILED-TUBING DRILLING
e
o te
speed and reducing risk exposure by always having Dual Drill String technology. nology has minimized problems for ERD such as lost
Coiled Tubing Drilling (CTD) as performed today is
a
P
casing on or near the bottom.
h
circulation, tripping time and also by providing effi-
generally considered to have begun in 1991 with a
r
horizontal sidetrack re-entry and from that time to
cient hole cleaning, reaching depths unimaginable.

p o s
the present, the technology have advanced rapidly. A But every method has its own set of limitations

i s
continuous string of flexible steel tubing, often thou-
h
such as
T
sands of feet long wound onto a reel allows drilling
wells deep with high horsepower pumping capacity
coiled tubing Inability to withstand huge stress,
and achive ERD for maximum production. Running Drilling-With-Casing Needless deflection due to
coiled tubing into the well is faster and less expensive heavy WOB
than running conventional since
Dual Drill String method though promising is on-
Coiled tubing is continous with zero connections ly performed / tested in two locations thus providing
Trips three times faster on average - coil per- Figure representing the drilling action of Dual Drill String Tech- window for future setbacks.
forms at 2,935 feet per hour vs. 984 feet per hour nology
To tackle the limitations, understanding of crite-
with jointed pipe
ria for selection of appropriate technology and merg-
Almost no spillage with closed coiled tubing sys- The new drilling method is based on a patented
ing of different methods for different scenarios with
tem drilling fluid flow arrangement. It incorporates a
through knowledge and limitations of the techniques
pipe-in-pipe concentric drill string, where one con-
in use should be done.
casing drilling vs conventional duit is used to pump fluid into the well and the oth-
er carries the return fluid from the well. A sliding pis-