Installation of Managed Pressure Drilling Technology in an Integrated Platform - Challenges and Lessons Learned

Abstract Incorporating Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) technology on an integrated platform required collaboration between internal and external muti-discipline teams. Multiple companies and stakeholders were involved in the MPD project. The MPD vendor was responsible for the manufacturing, installation, and operation of the MPD equipment. The Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (ECPM) contractor and Operator's Drilling Facilities Engineering (DFE) team were responsible for platform upgrades. The Certifying Authority (CA) was responsible to issue a Certificate of Fitness inclusive of the MPD system. The local Regulator was responsible for issuing the authorization to use MPD technology on the integrated platform once all the requirements were met. The multi-discipline team successfully installed an MPD system on an integrated platform, and the Operator was able to meet all requirements. This included updating key technical and operational documents, obtaining a Certificate of Fitness, developing training and competency programs for the crews, and confirming alignment with existing Health and Safety, Operations and Environmental Assessment/Protection programs and procedures. Installation of MPD technology on an integrated platform has unique technical and facility related challenges. This paper discusses the challenges and lessons learned from the first installation of MPD technology on an integrated platform. The first two wells drilled using MPD technology (P5-OP14 and P4E-WI1) yielded successful results. Use of MPD resulted in no wellbore instability across shale formations that historically resulted in significant instability and NPT. Optimal mud removal and cement placement was achieved with Managed Pressure Cementing (MPC), and MPD equipment was also used successfully during the wellbore displacement of the completion operation. This paper will also discuss the numerous lessons learned and optimizations identified during operations.