Abstract

AbstractAlthough considered a mature exploration area, the United States continues to attract exploitation of developed gas fields due to its well developed downstream infrastructure. However, natural gas production from major US basins is expected to fall below U.S. demand in the near term. Deep Miocene gas exploration programs in the Gulf of Mexico have emerged to exploit this supply shortfall. While attention has focused on jack-up rig designs for shallow water offshore prospects in this market, recent discoveries lie in 18 feet or less of water in Louisiana; the traditional operating area of the conventional swamp barge fleet.Penetration rates, hole stability, and mud properties are key well construction parameters for both deepwater and deep gas projects, and lessons learned apply to both areas of operation. Deep gas targets have comparatively more compacted formation, higher temperatures, and low margins between flowing wells and lost returns, thus well control is a driving factor in well design. This paper describes the re-engineering of a conventional deep drilling barge rig to deliver a new generation high pressure/high temperature/high flow barge rig designed for increased reliability and specification for deep gas drilling programs in the US Gulf Coast region. Upgrading the main power and distribution systems and high performance pump configuration are discussed as well as resulting auxiliary system modifications.Results of initial prospects drilled with this modified rig (Rig 76 B) in south Louisiana are presented, describing how upgrades on the rig impacted drilling performance. Safety and environmental results, hydraulics optimization, high pressure mud circulating system performance, and trouble shooting new components are included. The successful integration of drilling technologies including real time formation evaluation, bottomhole assemblies and performance drilling is discussed from the rig perspective. Finally, a check list of potential areas for improving the full potential of the rig in the market is provided to expand the application as more challenging drilling prospects are evaluated for technical and commercial feasibility.

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