Technology Focus HP/HT operations remain a high interest for the industry as deeper reservoir plays are pursued around the globe. Deeper horizons inherently create trends toward higher pressures and higher temperatures, adding to the complexity that the increased loads of such deep targets entail. Addressing these challenges requires careful engineering practices and attention to detail. The industry has an extensive and successful track record in dealing with HP/HT developments with 15-ksi systems introduced in 1957, 20-ksi systems in 1972, and 30-ksi systems in 1974. Ensuring that lessons learned and technical outcomes of HP/HT projects are accumulated over many years of industry activity is a pivotal area of focus for current industry personnel. Additionally, advances in computational capabilities, materials science, nondestructive testing, seal technologies, and wellbore and component simulation all bring further measures for integrity assurance that extend and fortify earlier engineering approaches to HP/HT developments. Industry standards also play an important role to ensure that HP/HT exploration and development projects are accomplished in a safe and reliable manner. To this end, focused work groups within standardization organizations including the American Petroleum Institute and the International Organization for Standardization have been developing guidance standards for the next generation of HP/HT developments. The industry continues to make firm strides in the development and qualification of next-generation HP/HT equipment including the industry’s first 20-ksi, 18¾-in. subsea-wellhead systems and the industry’s first 20-ksi, 18¼-in. blowout preventer.1 In parallel with these surface- and mudline-equipment advances, downhole drilling systems are being advanced in notable ways. Through a collaborative agreement between major operators and a major service company, downhole drilling systems are being developed with objectives including an operating rating of 450°F and a survivability rating of approximately 500°F. Finally, in terms of heavy-load handling and the deep-drilling aspects of HP/HT, leading drillpipe manufacturers now can provide metallurgies up to 165 ksi to address high-tensile-strength-design requirements. Across many fronts, substantial advances have been made and continue that provide the basis for the industry to address the next generation of HP/HT developments successfully. HP/HT Challenges additional reading available at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org SPE 138957 “It Is All About Pressure: Drilling a High-Pressure Well in Record Time Using Real-Time Tools” by Gustavo Santos, Ecopetrol S.A., et. al. SPE 136884 “Ensuring Well Integrity in HP/HT Wells: Brunei Case Study” by Salim Taoutaou, SPE, Schlumberger, et al. SPE 130716 “Material Selection for HP/HT Developments” by J. Marsh, Wood Group Integrity Management, et al. 1 Whitby, M.F. and Kotrla, J.E. 20-ksi BOP Stack Development. Paper 128477 presented at the 2010 IADC/SPE Drilling Conference and Exhibition, New Orleans, 2–4 February. doi: 10.2118/128477-MS.