Managed Pressure Drilling

Fundamental Concepts
Antonio Balanza
La Paz, Bolivia 2017

FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY

Learning Objectives

 At the end of this module, you will be able to:

 Explain pressure and operational window

 Describe and discuss basic drilling processes and techniques

 Explain drilling techniques used today, their characteristics and application

 Describe and understand Managed Pressure Drilling equipment

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 GeoBalance Services
Addressing Today’s Drilling Challenges

 Accessing Mature Reservoirs

 Crossing Depleted Zones
 Accessing Over pressured formations
 Crossing Narrow Pressure Margins
 Increasing Efficiency and Safety
 Protecting Sensitive Formations

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Why is GeoBalance important in today’s drilling challenges?

Non Productive Time in Drilling Operations

Twist Off

Stuck Pipe 57%

9%
Wellbore Instability
3%
Shallow water flow
4%
Kicks

Losses 11%

 (NPT) = 43 % 3%
13%

NPT related to pressure control = 43%

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 Module I
Concepts

FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY

Pressure

 What is Pressure?
It is the force acting on a unit area. In the oil field, pressure is commonly measured
in psi.

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Pore Pressure

 What is Pore Pressure?

It is the pressure acting on the fluids in the pore spaces of the rock. This pressure
is affected by:

• Lateral compression
• Expansion of fluids
• Fluid density contrasts
• Fluid shrinkage
• Undercompaction
• Unloading
• Rock dilation
• Reservoir depletion

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Fracture Pressure

 What is Fracture Pressure?

The amount of pressure it takes to permanently deform the rock structure of a
formation.

• It can be expressed as a gradient (psi/ft), as fluid

density equivalent (ppg), or by calculated total
pressure at the formation (psi).

• Fracture pressures at any given depth can vary

widely because of the geology of the area.

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Collapse Pressure
 What is Collapse pressure?
 It’s the collapse resistance of the borehole per foot of
depth and is expressed as equivalent mud weight,
ppg or psi/ ft.
 Borehole collapse occurs when the drilling-fluid
pressure is too low to maintain the structural integrity
of the drilled hole.

• Borehole instability can lead to:

• Borehole collapse
• Trapped tools
• Most logging operations affected
• Reduce casing support
• Cementing operations

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 Operational Window

FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY

This is your operational
window when you drive

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What to consider when building the operational window?

Operational
Window

Collapse Pore Fracture

Pressure Pressure Pressure

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 Operational Window Operational Window

Pore Pressure Fracture Pressure Collapse Pressure Fracture Pressure

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Drilling in the Operational Window Conventionally

 To drill conventionally inside the

operational window, the pressure
in the entire wellbore must be
greater than the pore pressure and
lower than the fracture pressure at
all times

 The types of pressure that are

experienced with this technique
are:
• Hydrostatic
• Dynamic

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 Hydrostatic Pressure
Hydrostatic Pressure is the pressure created by a column of fluid due to its density and vertical
height. This type of pressure always exists and may be calculated whether the fluid is static or
flowing.
F m ×g Density×Volume×gravity Den×A×h×grav
P= = = =
A A A A
P=Dens×h ×gravity
psi
P=0.052 ×Mud Dens ppg ×TVD(ft)
ppg×ft
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 Hydrostatic Pressure
IT is important to know that 0.052 is a conversion factor, and it is not a constant value.

psi
P=0.052 ×Mud Den ppg ×TVD(ft)
ppg×ft
psi TVD = 5,000 ft Water
P=0.052 ×8.33 ppg ×5,000(ft)
ppg×ft

P=2,166 psi= BHP

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Dynamic pressure

The dynamic pressure is the pressure created when the

fluid is in motion. The circulation of fluid adds a new
component known as “Annular friction loss”

An example of dynamic pressure is the standpipe:

𝑨𝒏𝒖𝒖𝒂𝒓 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑳𝒐𝒔𝒔

• SPP is the pressure generated by the mud pump in
order to move the drilling fluid from the mud pump TVD = 7,000 ft
around the system and back to the flowline

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Fluid Flow Friction Loss

 The main factors influencing flow friction loss in drilling operations are:

Fluid
Flow Rate Well Geometry
Properties

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 Wellbore pressure while circulating
Pump rate = 400 gpm
BHP = Hydrostatic pressure + pressure friction loss Annulus MW = 10.5 ppg

BHP = 0.052 × MW ppg ×TVD ft + PAnn−Friction

TVD = 9,000 ft

BHP=0.052×10.5ppg×9,000 ft +350 psi

BHP=5,264 psi
Pressure Friction Loss = 350 psi
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 Annular friction Loss
Any friction loss is the pressure loss caused by the movement of fluid against the interior surface
of a system (pipe, fitting, nozzles, etc.) .
The annular friction loss is influenced by velocity, mud properties, and the well geometry:

Examples:
 The Higher the velocity
The Higher Friction Loss
 The Higher the viscosity
 The tighter the well geometry

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 Two well Conditions
static condition dynamic condition

TVD BHP = Hyd. Press BHP = Hyd. Press+∆PFriction

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 Drilling Techniques

FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY

Conventional Drilling

 What is Conventional Drilling?

 It is the practice of maintaining a borehole

pressure over the pore pressure

 Characteristics

 Conventionally drilled wells are open systems

 Overbalanced pressure depends mostly on the
hydrostatic pressure

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Pressure equation for conventional drilling

𝑃𝐺𝑃 = 𝐻𝑃 + ∆𝑃𝐴𝐹𝐿

Where:

• 𝑃𝐺𝑃 = 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡

• 𝐻𝑃 = 𝐻𝑦𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒
• ∆𝑃𝐴𝐹𝐿 = 𝐴𝑛𝑛𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝐹𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠 At the shoe

On Bottom

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Conventional Drilling
Pressure

Static Mud Weight > PP

Dynamic Mud Weight

ECD < FP
Fracture Pressure
TV Depth
Pore Pressure

2
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 Operating Window – Conventional Scenario
Fracture Pressure
Drilling
Connections Circulating

Static Mud Tripping

logging
Weight
Pore Pressure
 Narrow operacional Windows
Losses

Fracture Pressure

Static Mud
Weight
Pore Pressure
Influxes
What to do in narrow operational windows
 Why don´t we change the mud density?
• It is going to take too much time
• There is not enough material
brainstorming •
•
We don’t want to damage the formation
It is too expensive
 Why don’t we change the pump rate?
• It is going to lead to poor hole cleaning
• The pumps will fail
• We are too close to the fracture point
• The BHA tools won´t work
 Why don´t we change the mud properties?


• No way! We won´t be able to carry the cuttings

• It is too expensive and it takes too much time
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What to do in narrow operational windows

brainstorming  Why don’t we try managed pressure drilling?

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Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD)

 What is it?
An adaptive drilling process used to precisely control the
annular pressure profile throughout the wellbore.

 What is the main objective?

 Control the pressure across the

wellbore within the downhole pressure
environment limits

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Applied back pressure or Surface back pressure
 It is an external pressure, which is applied into the well. To apply pressure, the
well must be in a closed loop system
Pascal’s Law
AP =200 psi
It states that pressure exerted anywhere in a confined
incompressible fluid is transmitted equally in all directions. This
means that the surface back pressure applied affects throughout AP =200 psi
the well.

AP =200 psi

AP =200 psi

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PRESSURE PROFILE USING MANAGED PRESSURE DRILLING

Fracture Pressure
Constant pressure at the control point

Pore Pressure/COLLAPSE PRESSURE

Static Mud Weight

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 Wellbore pressure behavior using MPD
BHP = Hydrostatic pressure + pressure friction loss+surface back pressure (sbp)

BHP = HP + PAnn−friction +SBP

 ASUMING 350 PSI OF ANNULAR FRICTION LOSS ON BOTTOM AND 250 PSI SBP:
sbp= 250 psi
BHP=0.052×10.5ppg×9,000 ft +350 psi+ 250 psi
BHP=5,514 psi
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 Wellbore pressure behavior using MPD
 All type of pressure that can affect the annular profile must be accounted to calculate the
total pressure.
• The surface pressure drop must be accounted in every single project.
• This pressure must be analysed in the Design of service, specially in offshore operations
BHP = HP + PAnn−friction +SBP + Surf. drop
 ASUMING 350 PSI OF ANNULAR FRICTION LOSS ON BOTTOM, 250 PSI as SBP and 120 psi as Surf. Drop :

BHP=0.052×10.5ppg×9,000 ft +350 psi+ 250 psi+120 psi

BHP=5,634 psi
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 Surface Backpressure
Pressure
0
Mud Weight

Managed Pressure Drilling

Fracture Pressure
TVD

Pore Pressure

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 MANAGED PRESSURE DRILLING
(Narrow Drilling Margins)

 Solve “Drilling” related problems

– Lost circulation - Depleted reservoirs
– Abnormally pressured formations
– Unstable formations
– Pressure Cycling
– Tripping out of the hole
– Running Casing in hole
– Ballooning
– Connection gas
 Increased safety
– Surface Gas Control
– Early influx detection / Improved well control
 Cost efficient
– Rapid change of downhole pressure without any changes to mud system
– Increased ROP
– Potential decreased formation damage / recognition of bypassed reserves
– Improve reservoir isolation (BHP management during cementing)
– Reduce the number of casing strings required to access the target.

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 Thresholds
Equivalent Mud Weight (ppg)
8 10 12 14 16 18 20
1800

Estimated pore pressure 2200

2600

Measured pore pressure 3000

3400

3800

Estimated frac gradient

Depth (m)
4200

4600

5000

There are benefits of being the mud weight as 5400

closed as possible to the pore pressure (Be aware

5800

of the collapse pressure)

6200

6600

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 Flow in THE TECHNIQUE
Flow out  The use of Surface Backpressure and a Kick
Detection System allows to determine the
Depth

drilling window in RT

PROCEDURE

Losses Pressure
 ECD is kept at a value where drilling is done
Pore Pressure

without problems (Flow in = Flow out)

 PP: Surface backpressure is decreased in
steps until the well “kicks” (Flow out > Flow in)
 Losses: Surface backpressure is increased in
steps until there is a loss (Flow out < Flow in)
EMW
3
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GBA Services

39
 Managed Pressure Drilling
Techniques

FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY

Drilling Techniques

Conventional
Drilling
Constant
Bottom Hole
Pressure
Drilling Underbalanced
Techniques Drilling
Pressurized
Mud Cap
Managed Drilling
Pressure
Drilling
Dual Gradient

Return flow
control

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Conventional (Overbalanced) Drilling

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Conventional Drilling

Drilling and Connections

circulating and tripping

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Underbalanced Drilling (UBD)

 What is Underbalanced Drilling?

A procedure used to drill oil and gas wells where the
pressure in the wellbore is kept lower than the fluid
pressure in the formation being drilled.

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Underbalanced Drilling (UBD)

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 Why Consider UBD?

 Maximizing hydrocarbon recovery

 Early production
 Reduced stimulation
 Enhanced recovery
 Increased reservoir knowledge

 Minimizing pressure related drilling problems

 Differential sticking
 No losses
 Improved penetration rate

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Underbalanced Operations

Drilling and Connections and

circulating tripping

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Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD)

 What is it?
An adaptive drilling process used to precisely control
the annular pressure profile throughout the wellbore.

 What is the objective?

 Control the bottom hole pressure
within the downhole pressure
environment limits.
 Avoid continuous influx of
formation fluids to the surface.

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Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD)

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 Constant Bottom Hole
Pressure

Pressurized Mud Cap

Drilling
Managed Pressure
Drilling
Dual Gradient

Return flow control

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Constant Bottom Hole Pressure (CBHP)
 CBHP is the term generally used to describe actions taken to correct or reduce
the effect of circulating friction loss or equivalent circulating density (ECD) in
an effort to stay within the limits imposed by the pore pressure/collapsed
pressure and fracture pressure.

Pressure at control Pressure at control

point (psi) point (psi)

Constant bottom hole pressure

𝟓, 𝟖𝟓𝟎 𝟓, 𝟖𝟓𝟎

Annular
Friction Loss

𝟓, 𝟒𝟓𝟎

𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 (𝐦𝐢𝐧) 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 (𝐦𝐢𝐧)

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Constant Bottom Hole Operations

Drilling and circulating

Connections and tripping

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Pressure Balance Equation while circulating

BHP = ΔPGravity + ΔPFriction + SBP + Surf. Drop

ΔPGravity =

ΔPFriction =
Drilling and circulating
SBP =

Surf. Drop =

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Pressure Balance Equation during Connections

BHP = ΔPGravity + ΔPFriction + SBP + Surf. Drop

ΔPGravity =

ΔPFriction =
SBP must
Connections compensate friction
SBP = in the annulus

This one reduces,

and SBP must
Surf. Drop = compensate it

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Pressure Balance Equation during connections

BHP = ΔPGravity + ΔPFriction + SBP + Surf. Drop

To have constant pressure at the control point, the SBP must compensate the lack of
annular friction in the system and the reduction on surface drop

SBP in connections = Shut in SBP = SBPdrilling + ΔPFriction + Surf. Drop

To generate proper SBP during connections, the MPD choke must have flow through it.
To accomplish this, it is needed to have a Rig Pump Diverter or a Back pressure pump

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Trapping pressure connections

This connection technique does not ensure constant pressure at the control point,
however it can be forced to generate higher BHP or equal to the formation pressure.
Trapping pressure must be used when it is impossible to provide flow through the MPD
Choke.

When to trap pressure:

 Problems with the pumps

 Power failure
 Any contingency that may need to turn the pumps off

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Trapping pressure

No flow

Choke fully closed

Before pump failure Trapping pressure

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Pressure Balance Equation while trapping pressure

BHP = ΔPGravity + ΔPFriction + SBP + Surf. Drop

The amount of pressure to be trapped should be the SBP while circulating + friction
losses in the annulus + Surf. Drop. To accomplish this, it is important to close the choke
as fast as possible. If the choke does not close fast enough, there is the chance to trap no
pressure.

SBP Trapping pressure = SBPdrilling + ΔPFriction + Surf. Drop

Once the operation is resumed, it is important to monitor all the parameters in case of a
possible influx. It is a good practice to circulate a bottoms up before drilling ahead.

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Pressure Balance Equation while Tripping
BHP = ΔPGravity + ΔPFriction + SBP + Swab/Surge + SD

ΔPGravity =

ΔPFriction =

Swab/Surge= SBP must

compensate
friction in the
Tripping Operations SBP = annulus and
surge/swab
effect

Surf. Drop =

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Continuous Circulation Systems

 Technique: keeps the ECD constant by not interrupting circulation during drilling. The
circulation can be maintained during connections or other interruptions to drilling progress by
using continuous circulating subs being added to the drill string.

 Application: used on wells where the annular friction pressure needs to be constant and/or
to prevent cuttings settling in extended reach horizontal sections of the wellbore.
Pressure at control
point (psi)

Constant bottom hole pressure

𝑷𝟏

𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 (𝐦𝐢𝐧)

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Continuous Circulation System – Ec-d

Drilling and Connections and

circulating tripping

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Pressurized Mud Cap Drilling (PMCD)

 PMCD is defined by the IADC as: “A variation of

Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD), that involves drilling
with no returns to surface and where an annulus fluid
column, assisted by surface pressure (made possible
with the use of an RCD), is maintained above a
formation that is capable of accepting fluid and
cuttings.
 The “mud cap” serves as an annular barrier, while the
driller uses a lighter, less damaging and less
expensive fluid to drill into the weak zone.

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Pressured Mud Cap Drilling
 Main drivers of the technique
 Drilling through zones with total losses
 Drilling through zones with hazardous reservoir fluids (e.g. H2S or CO2)
 Pro: reduces the time and cost associated with continuous well control issues and
loss of drilling fluid.
 Con:
 Requires a zone that can take the cuttings and the drilling fluid used to drill
the section for a long period of time
 Large quantities of sacrificial and mud cap drilling fluids
 Complex operational procedures
 Specialized equipment/personnel

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Pressurized Mud Cap Drilling (PMCD)
 A buffer manifold must be installed below the RCD to allow fluid to be pumped into
the annulus.

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Floating Mud Cap Drilling (MCD)

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66
Dual Gradient Drilling (DGD)

 Application: Offshore operations (small drilling windows)

 Technique
 Control up-hole annular pressure
 Mimic saltwater overburden with a lighter-density fluid by injecting less
dense media, or by filling the drilling riser with salt water while diverting
and pumping the mud and cuttings from the seabed floor to the surface.

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Dual Gradient Drilling (DGD)

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Return flow control

 This method is using the RCD to divert the flow and increase safety in the drilling
operations.

 Diverts flow away from the rig floor

 Avoids closing the BOP

 Avoid pipe movement while killing the well

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