Using of surface back pressure with water based mud in managed pressure drilling technique to solve lost circulation problem in Southern Iraqi Oil Fields

Batool Abdullah Dhayea,Sinan I M Al-Shaibani,Faleh H M Almahdawi

doi:10.52716/jprs.v11i3.531

Batool Abdullah Dhayea, Sinan I M Al-Shaibani + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.52716/jprs.v11i3.531

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Abstract

Many drilling problems are encountered continuously while drilling oil wells in the southern Iraqi oil fields. Many of these problems are ineffectively handled resulting in a longer non-productive time. This study aims to identify the formations such as Dammam, and Hartha formations،diagnose potential problems and provide the solution for lost circulation problem. After conducting a comprehensive study on the subject and based on available data, previous studies and some information, the managed pressure drilling (MPD) method was the best technique to solve this problem. This process may use various techniques including control of back pressures .Thus, reducing the risk and control the costs of drilled wells, which have narrow pressure window by managing the wellbore pressure profile. The well plan software program provided by Halliburton Company was used, this software is based on a database and data structure common to many of Landmark’s drilling applications. Mud used with various injection rates to choose the rate that provides the conditions to achieve the best drilling process, as it using mud weights of (8.8 -8.7 ) ppg and applied a surface back pressure (50 psi). Depending on specifications of second hole the optimal injection rate was chosen using the (hydraulics) program. As a results, rate of water injection (850) gpm, is the best which it provides a good efficient cutting transport ratio (CTR), which means high stability and preventing formation damage in addition to controlling in mud losses

Highlights

Lost circulation is a major problem when drilling in Basra oil fields
managed pressure drilling (MPD) is a new technology which used to treat mud losses by controlling the annular frictional pressure losses during drilling operation, and this technique uses tools almost similar to the tools used in drilling underbalanced operation
Constant bottom hole pressure (CBHP) was known as a proper technique of MPD to reduce the weight of overbalanced mud while applied a surface back pressure to avoid the low-pressure formations problems

Summary

Introduction

Lost circulation is a major problem when drilling in Basra oil fields. Where, some formations may contain caverns, large or some problems, so losses are not totally controllable and additional measures must be taken to maintain the safety and efficiency of the drilling process. MPD is a new technology which used to treat mud losses by controlling the annular frictional pressure losses during drilling operation, and this technique uses tools almost similar to the tools used in drilling underbalanced operation. This method is usually used in the fields with narrow mud window between pore pressure and fracture pressure. The aim of this research is to explain how to control the bottom hole pressure, mud losses and fluid flow from formation by using the technique of MPD This is to improve drilling operation for the hole 17.5 in by utilizing the lowest possible mud weight to reduce the differential pressure between mud pressure and pore pressure, by utilizing single phase drilling fluid with applied surface back pressure

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