Weatherford

Managed Pressure Drilling

Jonathan Morrow
Geozone Business Unit Manager Europe and SSA
January 2019

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Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD)

Concept

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AGENDA

• Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) Concept

• MicroFlux Control System
• Software
• Hardware
• P&ID
• MPD Rig up
• MPD Procedures
• Case study examples
• Open Discussion

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Principle of Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD)

▪ Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD): “an
adaptive drilling process used to precisely
control the annular pressure profile
throughout the wellbore.

▪ The objectives are to ascertain the downhole

pressure environment limits and to manage
the annular hydraulic pressure profile
accordingly.

▪ It is the intention of MPD to avoid continuous

influx of formation fluids to surface. Any influx
incidental to the operation will be safely
contained using an appropriate process”. ©2019 Weatherford International plc. All rights reserved.
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Managed Pressure Drilling Modes

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Principle of Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD)

Circulation Connection Circulation Connection

Equivalent Circulating Density [ppg] BHP

Circulating
Friction
BHP Circulating
Friction
BHP
Reduced Reduced
Required BHP [Pore Pressure + Trip Margin]

Hydrostatic Hydrostatic Hydrostatic Hydrostatic

Pressure Pressure Pressure Pressure

Time

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Principle of Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD)

SBPconnection

Annular Friction Pressure (AFP)

Surface Back Pressure (SBP)

SBPdrilling

0 Circulation Rate (Q) Qdrilling 0 Circulation Rate (Q) Qdrilling

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Principle of Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD)

Circulation Connection Circulation Connection

Equivalent Circulating Density [ppg] Required BHP [Pore Pressure + Margin] = BHP

Circulating Surface Circulating Surface

Friction Backpressure Friction Backpressure

Hydrostatic Hydrostatic Hydrostatic Hydrostatic

Pressure Pressure Pressure Pressure

Time

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Principle of Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD)

Circulation Connection Need to increase BHP?

Equivalent Circulating Density [ppg]

Required BHP [Pore Pressure + Margin] SBP

Circulating Surface Circulating Circulating
Friction Backpressure Friction Friction

Same
Hydrostatic Hydrostatic Hydrostatic
Hydrostatic
Pressure Pressure Pressure
Pressure

Time

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A closed loop circulation system is needed

Flow from Surface

Open to Atmosphere

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A closed loop circulation system is needed

Flow from Surface

Flow Diverted to MPD Choke RCD [Rotating Control Device]

Seals Against Drill Pipe & ‘Closes the Loop’

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MPD equipment and principle

Rig Rig Mud Mud Gas
Pumps Tanks Separator
Flow In

MicroFlux™ Choke Manifold

Flow Out
RCD

Rig Choke

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MPD equipment and principle

Rig Rig Mud Mud Gas
Pumps Tanks Separator

Flow In MicroFlux™ Choke Manifold

Flow Out
RCD

Back
Pressure
Rig Choke

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Measure →
Rig Rig Mud Mud Gas
Stroke
Pumps Tanks Separator
Counter F

Pressure
Sensor SP
MicroFlux™ Choke Manifold
Pressure Coriolis
Sensor SBP FDT Meter

RCD
P
← Control

OneSync
Hydraulics
Model
Rig Choke
BHP
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MPD equipment - RCD

RCD Bearing Assembly

Secondary Seal

Primary Seal
RCD Housing

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MPD Equipment – Rotating Control Device

• Hydraulic
Latching
Mechanism
• 3 x Outlets
• Dynamic
pressure
depends on
operating
conditions
• Dual, passive
Sealing Elements

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MPD Equipment – Rotating Control Device HCS

Provides a source of hydraulic
energy to actuate the c-lip latch
within the Latching Assembly.
The Bearing Assembly,
Protective Sleeve or other RCD
tooling can them be secured or
released.

The RCD HCS is controlled via an

HMI (Human Machine Interface)
which serves several purposes:

• Secure or release the

bearing and sealing
element assembly,
protective sleeve and other
tooling.
• Monitor wellbore pressure
and hydraulic pressure.
• Display alarms and
information to Operator.
• Confirmation operation
when securing or releasing
components.

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MPD equipment
RCD 7875 DS

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MPD equipment – Sealing Elements

▪ Sealing elements are passive – rely on elasticity/seal around
Pipe Size Sealing Element Recommended*
drillpipe (Inches) ID (Inches) * Max OD
– Natural Rubber (Inches)
Natural rubber with Weatherford’s proprietary wear and tensile strength additives
Most common material 6-5/8” 5-3/8” 8-1/2”
Ideal for water based muds 5-7/8” 4-7/8” 7-1/4”
Max Temperature 190°F
5-1/2” 4-1/8” 6-3/4”
5” 4-1/8” 6-3/4”
4-1/2” 3-5/8” 6-3/4”
4” 3-1/8” 6-3/4” (Note 1)
3-1/2” 2-7/8” 6-3/4” (Note 2)

– Polyurethane
Ideal for oil based muds
Ideal for synthetic based muds
Max Temperature 140°F ©2019 Weatherford International plc. All rights reserved.
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MPD equipment – RCD pressure rating

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MPD RCD Bearing removal

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MPD RCD Bearing removal

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MPD RCD Bearing removal

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MPD RCD Bearing removal

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MPD Protective sleeve installation

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MPD Protective sleeve installation

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MPD Protective sleeve installation

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MPD Protective sleeve installation

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MPD Protective sleeve installation

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MPD Protective sleeve installation

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MPD Protective sleeve installation

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MPD Protective sleeve removal

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MPD Protective sleeve removal

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MPD Protective sleeve removal

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MPD Protective sleeve removal

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MPD Protective sleeve installation

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MPD Protective sleeve installation

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MPD Bearing Installation

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MPD Bearing Installation

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MPD Bearing Installation

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MPD Equipment – Microflux Choke Manifold

• Dual hydraulic
actuated chokes
• Coriolis Mass
flow meter
• Precision
pressure sensors
• Hydraulic power
unit (HPU)
• Intelligent
control unit
(ICU)
• Fail in position
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 Weatherford 41

MPD Equipment –Double Block & Bleed Manifold

• Provides all
previous stated
functionality
• Adds double
isolation
functionality
• Can have
manual or
hydraulic
actuation

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MPD equipment – How SBP is created

Downstream

Flow Required
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