Unconventional Application of Managed Pressure Drilling

Managed pressure drilling operation is classified as an unconventional drilling method by controlling the annulus pressure between borehole and the drillstring near formation pressure. A controlling automated system choke system must change the downhole pressure in order to complete managed pressure drilling. It uses a number of tools and methods, including pressurized mud cap drilling, dual gradient, and constant bottomhole pressure, to sustain kicking and address other problems with lost circulation and differential sticking. In this case study, a deep well (16641 feet) well is documented along with the incidents, drilling sidetracks, issues, and costs. The well experienced a blowout and was temporarily sealed following a series of poorly sidetracked drilling operations. It was decided to return to the well and use managed pressure drilling (MPD) to drill a horizontal lateral sidetrack. The Austin Chalk formation, which is a fractured carbonate reservoir and exhibits high pressures, low concentrations of H₂S and CO₂, significant fluid losses into fractures, and well control issues while drilling sections, is the well’s main target. Rig-up with the standard drilling flow path and wellbore planning process, schematic, drilling, and control parameters were involved. To better understand the appropriateness of the circumstances, project management for the drilling operation time against depth with change management and cost estimation process was discussed. This helped to lead to the selection of managed pressure drilling as the most advantageous option to deal with some unique critical conditions of oil wells and prepare an appropriate economic feasibility study.