Nov-09

NOTES:

The papers listed here have been obtained by search SPE and IPTC papers post 2005 on the SPE's OnePetro
The papers relating to reservoir engineering have been catergorised for inclusion on the reservoirengineering.org.uk website
The affiiations searched were;

Total No Papers Reservoir Engineering Related

BP 551 175
Shell 575 279
Chevron 482 238
ConocoPhillips 191 68
Marathon 55 37
Total 255 129
Schlumberger 1130 563
Imperial College, London 95 53
Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh 235 175
(Anywhere in Article)
Total 3569 1717

Total number of papers published post 2005 10,000

35% of papers published categorised

 Paper
Organisation Source No. Chapter Section
SCHLUMBERGER SPE 98945 Drilling ERD
SCHLUMBERGER SPE 112365 Drilling Field Re-development
SCHLUMBERGER SPE 119506 Drilling Horizontal Well
TOTAL IPTC 12658 Drilling Light Well Architecture
SHELL SPE 114550 Drilling Snake Wells
SHELL SPE 108358 Drilling UBD
SHELL SPE 103576 Drilling UBD
Distinguished Author SPE 88698 Drilling UBD
 Subject
World Record
Dumbarton Field
Longest in World
Tunu Field
Champion West Field
Evolution
Implementation
Formation Damage
 Title
World-Record ERD Well Drilled From a Floating Installation in the North Sea
Dumbarton Field, UKCS: Rapid Redevelopment of a Complex, Mature North Sea Asset Using New Ro
How Continuous Improvement Lead to the Longest Horizontal Well in the World
Tunu Field Light Architecture Wells
The Snaking Wells in Champion West, Offshore Brunei. Best Practices for ERD Well Construction
Changing the Look and Feel of Underbalanced Drilling
Underbalanced Drilling In The Reservoir, An Integrated Technology Approach
Underbalanced Drilling; Remedy for Formation Damage, Lost Circulation, and Other Related Convent
 Author Abstract
A. Hjelle, SPE, T.G. Teige, SPE, K. Rolfsen, K.J. Hanken, SPE, and S. Hern Abstract The well 34/8-A-6 AHT2 was drilled from
Ukpe John, SPE, Schlumberger; Ian Tribe, SPE, Schlumberger; Jim MansonAbstract The Dumbarton Field operated by Maer
Kumud Sonowal and Bjarne Bennetzen, Maersk Oil Qatar AS; Patrick Won Abstract Maersk Oil Qatar AS (MOQ) completed d
Ph. Jeannet, Ch. Longis, M. Caroline, F. Widiwibowo, G. Tarnaud, D. Dodio Abstract One of the challenges of the mature Tun
L. Bacarreza, SPE, C. Hornabrook, Chong Chuan Khoo, Harald Nevy, and Abstract The Champion West field was discovered
John Ramalho, Shell E&P Intl. Ltd. Abstract Ever since Shell introduced underbalance
John Ramalho, SPE, Shell Intl. E&P Abstract Shell is a major player in the Global dep
Hani Qutob, Weatherford Underbalanced Systems Abstract Almost every drilling operation is a poten
4/8-A-6 AHT2 was drilled from the Visund Field Floating Production and Drilling Unit (FPDU) in the North Sea and set on production in Octo
rton Field operated by Maersk Oil North Sea in Block 15/20 has a number of drilling and well placement challenges which hampered deve
Qatar AS (MOQ) completed drilling the world record BD-04A well in May 2008 offshore Qatar. This was the successful outcome of engineer
challenges of the mature Tunu giant gas and condensate field development is the size reduction of new reserves associated to each new ta
on West field was discovered in 1975 and named Champion West in 1990. The field is located in the North of the Brunei Offshore sector. P
Shell introduced underbalanced drilling (UBD) in the offshore environment in 1997 Shell has been looking at ways to reduce the footprint for
ajor player in the Global deployment of Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) technology to reduce drilling prob-lems minimize formation dama
ry drilling operation is a potential source of damage to well productivity lost circulation differential sticking and other related conventional
d set on production in October 2005. The well was drilled to 9082 m/29796 ft measured depth and has an Along Hole Depth (AHD) reach o
es which hampered development during the 80s and 90s when operated by the previous owner. These include formation instabilit
ssful outcome of engineering efforts to increase extended reach capabilit
OnePetro
associated to each new target which tends to reduce the economical value
OnePetro
o
Brunei Offshore sector. Phase 3 of this project is the latest development with 20 wells (oil & gas). These Extended Reach Drilling (ERD) w
to reduce the footprint for the equipment required for underbalanced operations. Much of this work involved reducing the size of the separa
minimize formation damage and improve reservoir management techniques. The impetus is a recognition that most of the worlds mat
her related conventional Drilling problems. This paper re-visits the key damage mechanisims and provides a broad overview on how they
Hole Depth (AHD) reach of 7593 m/24911 ft which is a world record for Extended Reach Drilling (ERD) from a floating installation. The
nclude formation instability directional-drilling control issues and thin complex reservoirs which are poorly imaged on seismic. Reservoir ove

ed Reach Drilling (ERD) wells are designed as snake wells penetrating the reservoir several times in order to create multiple drainage
ing the size of the separator (volume) and modularising the UBD kit by stacking and containerising. As UBD takes a foothold in low-cost op
ost of the worlds mature hydrocarbon reservoirs are in the lower end of the depletion cycle and an increasing number of horizontal well
ad overview on how they occur during various oilfield operations and their effect on well productivity. Also lost circulation or fluid invasion
ating installation. The 34/8-A-6 AHT2 is also the longest Down hole Instrumentation and Control System (DIACS) installation worldwid
on seismic. Reservoir overburden is fast drilling formations with hard stringers. The field pore-pressure gradient is at 9.07ppg EMW but mu

create multiple drainage points snake well develop oil rim reservoirs. All the wells are of different horizontal lengths as can be seen in Figu
a foothold in low-cost operating areas Shell has actively looked at ways to not only reduce the footprint but also the unit operating cost driv
number of horizontal wells are left with un-cemented completions. In addition to access new untapped reserves requires venturing into de
rculation or fluid invasion potential in high permeability zones large open fractures heterogeneous carbonates with massive interconnecte
ACS) installation worldwide with the lower isolation packer set at 8560 m / 28084 ft measured depth. The well includes three hydraulically o
at 9.07ppg EMW but mud density needed for wellbore stability is greater than 11.6ppg. This resultant high overbalance and other issues su

hs as can be seen in Figure 1 and 2. The objective of this paper is to present the learning and best practices gained after drilling 5 of these
he unit operating cost driven mainly by the need for experienced expatriate personnel to man the equipment. Recent introduction of new or
requires venturing into deeper water depths and the exploitation of deeper tight gas reservoirs each with its own challenges. This paper de
th massive interconnected vugular porosity or pressure depleted zones would be a major issue of concern during conventional drilling con
 udes three hydraulically operated flow valves which are used as down hole chokes to optimize the production from the separate zones in
alance and other issues such as hole cleaning complex directional profile ECD management at high ROPs can lead to inefficient motor dri

ned after drilling 5 of these snake oil wells during Champion West phase 3a. Best practices refers to those developed during the project tha
ent introduction of new or improved tools and equipment combined with growing recognition that the primary value driver for the application
hallenges. This paper describes the process involving rigorous pre-screening planning execution and feedback of learning de-veloped tha
g conventional drilling condition. The worst-case scenario would be a combination of one of these high permeability features with significa
om the separate zones in the reservoir. Subsea developments in combination with ERD wells can increase oil production and lower total d
ead to inefficient motor drilling. The soft formations also create limitations for push-the-bit rotary steerable systems to deliver the required dir

ped during the project that have resulted in: reduction of costs by reducing trouble time (Non Productiv
driver for the application underbalanced drilling is dynamic reservoir characterization creates a window of opportunity to move this initiative
of learning de-veloped that enables fast implementation of underbalanced drilling (UBD) and integrated technologies into Brown Field a
ity features with significant pressure depletion. In order to overcome the above problems while drilling the industry developed a method t
oduction and lower total development cost. The drilling progress was 108 m/day from seabed to total depth according to the Rushmore dri
to deliver the required directional performance to land wells. To overcome these drilling challenges a new point-the-bit rotary steerable sys

ouble time (Non Productive Time) reduction bit off-bottom circulation times
unity to move this initiative forward. This paper presents the conceptual framework to replace large manpower intensive surface equipmen
es into Brown Field areas and new business opportunities in Green Field devel-opment. This begs the question; what is Managed
try developed a method to drill with a bottom hole pressure below the pore pressure called Underbalanced Drilling - UBD As the majority
rding to the Rushmore drilling performance definition and the payback time for this well was less than two months. Experiences gained on
he-bit rotary steerable system with a high dogleg capability has been utilised for successful landing of these wells into reservoir sections wit

increase of bit on-bottom time improved ability to clean the hole resultin
ensive surface equipment with a combination of down-hole and surface tools and equipment having the same functionality but improved eff
uestion; what is Managed Pressure Drilling technology and what is the relationship with underbalanced drilling? The International Associati
ng - UBD As the majority of hydrocarbons being exploited today are found in existing pressure depleted or complex and lower quality Rese
s. Experiences gained on this well indicate that even longer wells can be drilled from subsea locations in the near future. Introduction Th
into reservoir sections without need for pilot holes or mechanical sidetracks. Additionally a new LWD tool that allows monitoring of the distan

to clean the hole resulting in trouble-free trips trouble free casing runs
ctionality but improved efficiency which enable a reduced footprint. It illustrates how the functionality of the 4-phase separator can be repla
he International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) defines Managed Pressure Drilling as an adaptive drilling process used to pr
ex and lower quality Reservoirs with lots of the conventional drilling problems this is where Underbalanced Drilling Technology can add va
 future. Introduction The Visund field is located in block 34/8 in the North Sea 150 km west of Norway (Figure 1 2 3). The field was disc
ws monitoring of the distance and direction to formation boundaries up to 15 ft away from the wellbore has been used to proactively guide th

the deepest SMART completion in the world The 350 days campaign was delivered 49 days earlier than plann
se separator can be replaced by combining inline phase separation a gas buster and down-hole multiphase metering. Furthermore it descr
drilling process used to precisely control the annular pressure profile throughout the well bore. The objectives are to establish the down-hole
g Technology can add value and in some cases reduce development cost. Soon Underbalanced Drilling will become the standard field de
1 2 3). The field was discovered in 1986 and production started in 1999. The Visund field is an oil & gas field with a water depth of 335 m
sed to proactively guide the wells along the thin oil reservoir units/sands. These tools also enabled the wells to be placed as close to the res

9 days earlier than planned and below budget. Total cumulative drilling length was of 34 km. This performance allowed the Well Constructio
ring. Furthermore it describes how massive surface snubbing systems are being replaced with down-hole isolation systems and proposes r
to establish the down-hole pressure environment limits and to manage the annular hydraulic pressure profile accordingly. In a sense mana
ome the standard field development technique both Onshore and offshore where the Geology and Reservoir are suitable. The paper rev
h a water depth of 335 m (1100 ft). The depth of the main reservoir is between 2900-3000 mTVD with a maximum pore pressure of 434 b
placed as close to the reservoir roof shales as possible to maximize stand-off from the waterleg and hence increase overall oil recovery. Dis

owed the Well Construction team to achieve the Shell Global EP Rig of the Fleet award twice in 3 years. Introduction The Champion Wes
n systems and proposes replacing current intrusive and high maintenance BHA equipment with low-cost rotary steerable systems non-intrus
rdingly. In a sense managed pressure drilling covers all drilling since management of pressure is the goal of all drilling activities. However
e suitable. The paper reviews several case histories and real results highlighting the advantages of Underbalanced Drilling Technology in r
m pore pressure of 434 bar. The field is 24 Km long and 4 Km wide. With this shape of the field ERD wells drilled both to the North and to
se overall oil recovery. Distance and direction to boundary data displays are intuitive to interpretation allowing better geosteering decisions w

ction The Champion West structure is 12 km long by 3 km wide with depths varying between 2 000 4 000 m. Reservoir pressures rang
erable systems non-intrusive MWD systems and the development of non-return valves (NRVs) that are compatible with through bore solutio
rilling activities. However there is general industry agreement that Managed Pressure Drilling is an umbrella term that refers to drilling activ
ed Drilling Technology in reducing Formation Damage Lost Circulations and improving well productivity. Introduction The Oil and Gas Ind
 both to the North and to the South will increase drainage area and thereby the total recovery from the field. The Visund Floating Productio
er geosteering decisions without compromising ROP and drilling efficiency. Within six months six wells were delivered including three sidetr

Reservoir pressures range from 200-600 bar with a temperature range of 80-120C. It consists of highly stratified/laminated reservoirs w
e with through bore solutions to optimise data gathering while drilling. The paper postulates that every piece of equipment is driven by a fun
that refers to drilling activities conducted in a closed loop system. Conventional overbalanced drilling sits at one end of the Managed Press
tion The Oil and Gas Industry drills thousands of wells worldwide each year. From the Reservoir and Production Engineers perceptions a
Visund Floating Production and Drilling Unit (FPDU) is located centrally on the field. The Visund North satellites consist of two wells tied ba
red including three sidetracks (One top hole and two horizontal sections). All wells penetrated more reservoir sand than prognosed and all w

ed/laminated reservoirs with erratic fluid fill; narrow elongated fault blocks; and thin oil rims (10-100m) with a high degree of compartmenta
uipment is driven by a functional need has an impact on efficiency and therefore cost and may offer opportunity for enabling add-ons if the u
nd of the Managed Pressure Drilling spectrum and underbalanced drilling at the other end. In conventional drilling bottom hole pressure is
Engineers perceptions a successful well is one that achieves its maximum production potential with no or minimal formation damage. U
 onsist of two wells tied back to the FPDU with a 9 km long subsea pipeline. The well in this case history is a world record ERD well drilled
d than prognosed and all were drilled faster than prognosed. Initial production testing was higher than expectation. Introduction This paper

degree of compartmentalisation. There are over 1000 reservoirs in the Champion West area. Due to the nature of the vertically stacked s
r enabling add-ons if the underbalanced drilling process is viewed from a different perspective. Introduction It has been pointed out many ti
bottom hole pressure is managed by controlling the density of the drilling fluid to maintain well bore pressure profile above the pore-pressu
mal formation damage. Unfortunately this objective is rarely achieved when conventional overbalanced drilling is used where mud solids a
d record ERD well drilled from a floating installation. In the early pre-planning phase the well was planned as a separate costly subsea de
Introduction This paper uses a case study to highlight the benefits of using Point the bit RSS the latest LWD tool technologies and proces

of the vertically stacked structurally dipping reservoirs it was recognized at an early stage that a fundamental change from the standard we
been pointed out many times and by as many folks that underbalanced drilling is not a new technology. In its simplest form it is makin
file above the pore-pressure throughout the well bore. Underbalanced drilling on the other hand the well bore pressure profile is intentional
used where mud solids and mud filtrate invade the reservoir formation and impair the permeability around the well bore. Formation damag
separate costly subsea development drilled by a separate semi-submersible rig. A new technical and economical study showed that this w
technologies and process for redevelopment of an otherwise impossible matured field. The case is the Dumbarton development project w

nge from the standard well design was required. Due to the high number of stacked reservoirs the multilateral concept was not an option be
plest form it is making hole with cable tool rigs. The next evolution was rotary air drilling followed by air hammer drilling; underbalanced
ssure profile is intentionally kept below the pore-pressure of all the exposed formations in the well bore. In be-tween these two extremes are
ll bore. Formation damage can occur during almost any stage of petroleum exploration and production operations. This paper describes in
 study showed that this well could be drilled more economically from the existing Visund FPDU using existing subsea systems.The tot
n development project which is a redevelopement of the BP Donan field by Maersk Oil UK. The filed was discovered by 15/20a-4 well in 19

cept was not an option because of cost and complexity. Conventional horizontal wells were also considered however the concept was no
mer drilling; underbalanced techniques designed primarily to improve rate of penetration in hard formations. Mist and foam drilling were tech
en these two extremes are various techniques used to con-trol the annular pressure profile and overcome constraints im-posed as a result o
s. This paper describes in detail the main formation damage mechanisms that occur during conventional drilling operation and how it can b
bsea systems.The total depth of the well 34/8-A-6 AHT2 is 9082 m. The horizontal reach (slot to TD) is 7484 m and the along hole dept
red by 15/20a-4 well in 1987 and appraised by a 15/20a-6 well (a deviated well drilled from the 15/20a-4 surface loacation) in 1990. Produc

ever the concept was not attractive due to the large number of wells required to drain all the key sands.
nd foam drilling were technological tweaking to mitigate water influx to the well bore and to aid in hole cleaning while primarily drilling with an
nts im-posed as a result of the equivalent circulating density of the mud system. Seen from Shells perspective Managed Pressure Drill
peration and how it can be controlled and prevented using Underbalanced drilling technology. The severity of solids and filtrate invasion d
m and the along hole depth (AHD) reach is 7593 m - a world record reach from a floating installation. (Figure 4 5 6) Low friction factors
oacation) in 1990. Production from these two wells commence in 1992 untill 1997; at this point a total of 15.3 mmstb oil was produced. In 19

le primarily drilling with an aerated fluid. In the mid to late 1980s drilling high angle or horizontal boreholes to maximize exposure to re
e Managed Pressure Drilling is a basket of drilling techniques that can be adapted to solve drilling related problems reduce formation dama
lids and filtrate invasion depends on mud rheology the duration of exposure to mud system over-balanced mud pressure rock permeabil
5 6) Low friction factors in relation to torque were experienced by the use of an optimum well profile. Good hole cleaning was obtained wit
tb oil was produced. In 1995 there was a planned Phase 2 development consisting of replacing the two producers which were becoming in

maximize exposure to reservoir rock created the need for further enhancements but for a different purpose; to reduce formation damage c
s reduce formation damage and or dynamically characterize production reservoirs (while drilling) to enable improved reservoir managemen
pressure rock permeability and mineralogical composition of reservoir rocks. The solids and filtrate invasion causes the so called ski
cleaning was obtained with the use of 180 RPM on the drillstring together with maximum allowable flow rate. The ERD well has a Down ho
which were becoming increasing wet with a drier horizontal wells to be drilled to the west of 15/20a-6 well. Five attempts (wells 15/20b-12

duce formation damage caused by fluid invasion as a result of the longer exposure time required to drill the lateral sections. Today underba
ved reservoir management. It is also worthy to note that not all Managed Pressure Drilling tech-niques require a closed loop system. Introdu
uses the so called skin effect which may be attributed to different damage mechanisms that can have significant impact on the produc
ERD well has a Down hole Instrumentation and Control System (DIACS) completion with tree separate zones operated by three hydraulic
attempts (wells 15/20b-12 12Z 12Y 12X 1W) were made but all were understood to have been considered at that time to be disappointin

sections. Today underbalanced drilling has evolved where the primary well control function of the mud column used in conventional drilling
osed loop system. Introduction Shell has deployed underbalanced drilling in oil and gas reser-voirs since the early 1990s. The introdu
ant impact on the production and/or injection rates. Therefore understanding the different mechanisms of formation damage is becoming a
perated by three hydraulically controlled flow valves. This is the longest DIACS completion in the world with the lower isolation packer set
hat time to be disappointing. The previous operator then decided to abandon any further development enhancements and to continue produ

ed in conventional drilling is replaced by a combination of flow and pressure control. Bottom-hole pressure and return well flow are continu
y 1990s. The introduction of horizontal drilling in the reservoir in the 1980s resulted in many new challenges. It created the need fo
on damage is becoming an important task for reservoir engineers in the oil and gas industry because it is the first step to be taken to prev
wer isolation packer set at 8560 m. The well is produced at a rate of 2500 Sm/day (15700 bbl/day) with production from all zones. Pro
nts and to continue producing the existing wells until it ceased to be profitable. As a result the field was abandoned in 1997 at this point the

eturn well flow are continuously measured and controlled by means of respectively pressure while drilling (PWD) measurements and a clos
ges. It created the need for a different approach to en-able drilling in depleted and fractured reservoirs. Shell initi-ated underbalanced drillin
step to be taken to prevent and further alleviate this problem. What is Formation Damage? Formation Damage was once defined as:
uction from all zones. Production from the upper zone A would not have been possible without a controlled production from the other zones
d in 1997 at this point the final water cut was 71%.

measurements and a closed circulating system. Figure 1 illustrates the complete UBD system which comprises of the drill pipe circulating s
ated underbalanced drilling operations with foam1 in 1992 and in 1993 and 1994 the company conducted trials using multi-phase drilling flui
e was once defined as: the impairment of the invisible by the inevitable and uncontrollable resulting in an indeterminate reduction of t
ction from the other zones hence adding value to the DIACS completion design Experiences from this well show that even longer wells ca

the drill pipe circulating system a rotating control device (RCD) a UBD choke manifold a separator and a flare stack or flare pit. In addition
ng multi-phase drilling fluids and the closed loop 4-phase separation system. In 1995 Shell successfully drilled the first horizontal underbala
determinate reduction of the un-quantifiable1. Luckily the fact that Formation Damage is inevitable and Uncontroll-able has been replaced
w that even longer wells can be drilled from subsea locations in the near future. Optimal pre-planning with use of all service companies invo

ack or flare pit. In addition non-return valves (NRVs) are installed in the BHA and drill string to prevent flow up the DP1. As part and p
e first horizontal underbalanced well using coiled tubing in Canada2. In 1997 Shell introduced underbalanced drilling in the offshore envi-ro
ll-able has been replaced by a more positive attitude: Underbalanced Drilling Technology