MPD/UBO

MPD helps to Make Problems Disappear

By Ken Smith, ConocoPhillips

“MANAGED Pressure Drilling”

(MPD) is a frequently misused term.
Some people equate MPD to underbal-
anced drilling, and others equate it to
“Power Drilling.” These associations are
understandable, as all 3 practices share
some key components: a rotating control
head and a choke. Frequently, mud-gas
separation equipment and a drill string
float are used. However, the goals of
these operations differ significantly.

Underbalanced operations are generally

directed at reducing producing formation
damage by encouraging inflow from the
producing zone while drilling, thus keep-
ing the drilling fluids out of the forma-
tion. Power drilling is generally associat-
ed with hard formations, and significant
underbalance is sought to maximize pen-
etration rate. In these wells, influx may
or may not occur, but the goal remains to
maximize penetration rate. These wells Figure 1
are frequently drilled with air or foam.
instantly. In this
The IADC Underbalanced Operations &
respect, safety is
Managed Pressure Drilling Committee
enhanced.
has defined MPD as “an adaptive drill-
ing process used to precisely control the Constant bottom-
annular pressure profile throughout the hole pressure profile
wellbore.” The objectives are to ascer- MPD: In this situa-
tain the downhole pressure environ- tion, the well is stable
ment limits and to manage the annular while static, but once
hydraulic pressure profile accordingly.” circulation com-
MPD operations are directed at manipu- mences, losses occur
lating “windows” that exist between in a weaker zone up
either formation pore pressures or well- the wellbore due to
bore stability pressures, and fracture the AFP. The conven-
pressures (Figure 1). In these wells, tional response would
influx is absolutely avoided, just as in be to set casing.
conventional drilling operations. However, an alterna-
Figure 2 tive response could
Perhaps it is easier to express these for-
be to use a rotating
mation attributes in terms of pressure,
There are several variations of managed control head, a sur-
rather than gradient. In this display,
pressure drilling that offer alternatives face choke and a drill pipe float, reduce
the “windows” are expressed as the red
to combat various downhole pressure the mud density and impose a surface
lines in Figure 2.
challenges, however. In this article, 3 pressure on the well while making con-
situations are offered where MPD can be nections.
CONVENTIONAL DRILLING used to avoid or defer setting casing.
In conventional operations, wellbore Dual gradient MPD: In some wells,
The reason that these variations of there is a rapid pressure gradient
control is maintained by ensuring that
MPD are even achievable is because the increase that cannot be controlled with
the static and dynamic circulating pres-
equipment allows us to keep the wellbore a single fluid density without fractur-
sure profiles are within these windows.
closed at all times. Once the wellbore ing shallower formations. This is typi-
Naturally, the bottomhole pressure
becomes a closed and pressurizable con- cally associated with deep water where
increases by an amount equal to the
tainer, any changes at all to the pressure the seawater column dominates the
annular friction pressure (AFP) while
conditions are immediately apparent formation pressure in the shallower
circulating. As the windows narrow,
on the surface in the form of a pres- formations. Traditionally, this situa-
either well influxes or lost circulation
sure change on the annulus. Therefore, tion requires several casing strings to
can occur. The traditional response is to
influxes and losses are detected almost be set in the first few thousand feet of
set casing and re-establish the windows.

48 September/October 2006 D R I L L I N G CONTRACTOR

 MPD/UBO

sediment. An alternative response can

be dual gradient MPD, where a lifting
mechanism is introduced in the wellbore.
The mechanism can be mechanical. It
can also be through the introduction and
mixing of a lighter fluid or solid – for
example, base oil, nitrogen or hollow
spheres – into the wellbore. Onshore,
this can be done through the introduc-
tion of a “parasite string,” where air is
injected into the wellbore at the casing
shoe. Offshore, experience with dual
gradient drilling is most frequently mani- In tight margins (above left), wells can flow statically and lose returns when circu-
fested as “pump and dump,” where mud lating. The traditional response (above right) is to set casing and raise mud density.
is circulated and discharged at the mud-
line during the top hole drilling opera-
tions before the surface casing, drilling
riser and BOP are run.

Pressurized mudcap MPD: This varia-

tion of MPD is similar to dual gradient
MPD, except that there is a rapid pres-
sure gradient reversal. In this situation,
the shallower formations will flow if the
mud density is maintained such that
losses do not occur in the deeper zones
being drilled. Naturally, a solution is to
set casing and seal off the high pressure Situation (above left): Static OK, but HH+AFP exceeds formation strength and
zones. An alternative is to use the rotat- losses occur. Possible solution (above right): Use lower density and impose back-
ing control head and maintain a higher pressure when static.
density fluid down to the weaker zones
on top and drill with an expendable fluid,
circulating all returns into the weak
zones. This is effective in very vugular
formations. The density of the upper
fluid is dependent on how much surface
pressure is acceptable on the surface.

Health, safety and environment MPD:

One more example of MPD is not really
MPD at all. It is instead perhaps one
of the more compelling motivations to
utilize the equipment of MPD: the rotat-
ing control head and surface choke. Situation (above left): Rapid pressure increase. Neither a static nor a dynamic
Another tremendous benefit is realized column of single density fluid can be managed. Possible solution (above right): 2
with this equipment when it is used on density gradients in the wellbore, lower on top, higher on bottom.
production facilities, where any gas
detected on the rig floor will cause a
platform shut-in. With the surface con-
trol head, the rig floor is isolated from
any gas escape from the mud at the top
of the bell nipple. Instead, it is directed
though the mud-gas separator, where it
is vented harmlessly away from sensi-
tive areas.

With these examples, it is evident that

MPD is not a technique; it’s a collection
of techniques that can be used as alter-
natives in controlling difficult downhole Situation (above left): Pressure reversal can’t be controlled with single gradient sys-
pressure regimes. It’s also clear why tem. Possible solution (above right): Use rotating control head, heavier mud on top
operators are adding these techniques to
and inject all returns into weak zone.
the arsenal of available tools.
Ken Smith is Manager, Well Operations, at Pressure Drilling and Underbalanced
In essence, Managed Pressure Drilling is ConocoPhillips. This article is based on a pre- Operations Conference & Exhibition, held 28-
helping to Make Problems Disappear. sentation made at the 2006 SPE/IADC Managed 29 March in Galveston, Texas.

D R I L L I N G CONTRACTOR September/October 2006 49