Well Control Considerations - Offshore Applications of Underbalanced Drilling Technology (2003)

Well Control Considerations – Offshore Applications of Underbalanced Drilling Technology Don M. Hannegan; Don M. Hannegan Weatherford Drilling & Intervention Services Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Glen Wanzer Glen Wanzer University of Oklahoma Blowout Preventer School Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Paper presented at the SPE/IADC Drilling Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands, February 2003. Paper Number: SPE-79854-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/79854-MS Published: February 19 2003 Connected Content Related to: Well Intervention and Control: Offshore Applications of Underbalanced-Drilling Technology Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Get Permissions Search Site Citation Hannegan, Don M., and Glen Wanzer. "Well Control Considerations – Offshore Applications of Underbalanced Drilling Technology." Paper presented at the SPE/IADC Drilling Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands, February 2003. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/79854-MS Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll ProceedingsSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)SPE/IADC Drilling Conference and Exhibition Search Advanced Search Abstract This paper focuses upon the well control aspects related to offshore applications of the tools and technology normally associated with underbalanced drilling systems (UBS). A discussion of the history of underbalanced drilling and the evolution of the specialized equipment required to practice the technology with a well established and commendable well control track record will help one recognize the potential benefits of offshore application. Whether onshore or offshore, a key component of UBS is a rotating diverter control head (RCH). As a key tool, the development of RCH's enabled the technology of onshore UBD and led the way towards encouraging the development of numerous other pieces of the UBS "tool chest". RCH's are fulfilling the same enabling role offshore, including leading the way towards numerous non-underbalanced drilling uses. Offshore applications of the tool include "onshore models" atop surface blowout prevention stacks (BOP's). Several "offshore variations" of the tool enable deepwater drilling (subsea BOP) with lightweight fluids, managed pressure drilling, dual gradient deepwater drilling, slim riser deepwater drilling with a surface BOP, and one subsea model facilitates controlling abnormally pressured aquifers and/or achieving zero discharge when riserless drilling top hole sections when establishing a subsea wellhead.Barriers to achieving a true state of underbalance during an offshore well's drilling program include wellbore instability, dealing with produced hydrocarbons, and in some cases, regulatory restrictions. Offshore applications were the intent in using UBS was to drill ahead under a true state of underbalance now total around 100 wells. All but one has been drilled from rigs a surface BOP's. In deeper waters from floating rigs with subsea BOP's, the trend to drill underbalanced is expected to be more aggressive in the future given the large percentage of all known deepwater resources being economically undrillable otherwise.In the nearer term, non-underbalanced drilling applications of the specialized equipment and technology associated with underbalanced drilling is much less of a step-change and avoids the aforementioned barriers to true underbalanced drilling offshore.Therefore this discussion places emphasis upon the non-underbalanced drilling applications of the specialized equipment associated with underbalanced drilling and illustrates the well control considerations.In the context of this paper, well control implications relate to the potential for surface events as well as underground blowouts. Keywords: application, underbalanced drilling, specialized equipment, marine riser, true state, annular pressure drilling, spe iadc 79854, upstream oil & gas, diverter, rch Subjects: Wellbore Design, Drilling Operations, Pressure Management, Drilling Equipment, Drilling Fluids and Materials, Pipelines, Flowlines and Risers, Offshore Facilities and Subsea Systems, HSSE & Social Responsibility Management, Safety, Wellbore integrity Copyright 2003, SPE/IADC Drilling Conference You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.