Roadmap to Success: How Deepwater MPD Equipment was Decommissioned, Refurbished and Installed on New Drillship in Record Time

Managed pressure drilling technology (MPD) has been deployed in eastern mediterranean for well over a decade and a half. Initially the technology deployed was designed for use on Jack up rigs and had modifications done to allow the equipment to be deployed on floating rigs. However, as the demand for deepwater applications grew the MPD service providers worked to develop bespoke deepwater submersible systems which could integrate seamlessly with floating rigs’ riser systems. Weatherford introduced it first generation MPD riser system which was installed below the termination joint on the rig in 2014. In 2016 it was deployed for long term contract in eastern Mediterranean Sea on a 5th generation drillship. This was a new build installation on the rig and required a very detailed survey of the moon pool deck where the surface MPD equipment was going to be installed in a stacked arrangement to allow other ancillary completions equipment to be integrated as well. This work was completed in 52 weeks from when the first order for MPD equipment was placed to the stage where the equipment was installed on the rig tested, commissioned and ABS certification finalized to allow the system to commence drilling operations. The system was utilized for 3 years and towards the end of 2019 it was released due to changes in operational requirements. In 2021 the operator returned to drilling activity in eastern mediterranean and this time the second-generation Deepwater MPD system was deployed in Q4 2021. This was considered an accelerated deployment as the Gen II MPD pkg required some modification of the existing structures which were initially installed on board in 2016. This deployment was completed in ~24 weeks representing a 58% improvement over the contractual term of 56 weeks. Late 2022 the customer communicated their plans to upgrade from the currently deployed 5th generation floater rig and bring in a 7th generation drillship. Their plan was to perform the rig swap in late Q3 early Q4 of 2023. They intended to continue to use MPD pkg for drilling the first well with this rig. The well was classified as an exploratory well and so the stakes and requirements for MPD readiness were crucial. Their time frame was very challenging as the current rig was drilling a developmental well with MPD system online and due to nature of drilling operations it is very difficult to predict with pinpoint accuracy when the system will be released from the rig. On the other hand, the 7th generation rig was being mobilized from GOM and had an estimated sailing time of 30-40 days followed by 2 weeks of customs clearance process in Egypt and would then commence drilling the exploration well with the MPD section estimated within 4 weeks of spud.