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Title: Procedures control total mud losses while drilling in deep water

Abstract

In the deepwater (830-1,000 m) drilling program offshore Philippines, reefal limestones were encountered in which total mud losses could be expected because of the presence of large fractures. The danger was that a sudden drop in hydrostatic head (resulting from the losses) could allow any natural gas to enter the well bore quickly. The gas could then migrate up the well bore and form hydrates in the blowout preventers (BOPs). Once hydrates form, they are difficult to remove and can make a BOP stack inoperable. To combat this potential problem, containment procedures were developed to cope with these fluid losses. The philosophy behind the procedures was to prevent hydrocarbons from entering the well bore and, if they did enter, to ensure that they did not move up the well bore and into the riser. Additionally, procedures were developed to allow drilling to continue during the losses and the curing of losses.

Authors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. Shell Philippines Exploration BV, Manila (Philippines)
  2. Forasol/Foramer, Manila (Philippines)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
5814638
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Oil and Gas Journal; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 91:44; Journal ID: ISSN 0030-1388
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
03 NATURAL GAS; LOST CIRCULATION; PROCESS CONTROL; NATURAL GAS WELLS; PHILIPPINES; BLOWOUT PREVENTERS; CONTAINMENT; DRILLING FLUIDS; GAS HYDRATES; GEOLOGIC FRACTURES; LIMESTONE; PERFORMANCE; WELL DRILLING; ASIA; CARBONATE ROCKS; CONTROL; DEVELOPING COUNTRIES; DRILLING; DRILLING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT; FLUIDS; GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES; HYDRATES; ISLANDS; ROCKS; SEDIMENTARY ROCKS; WELLS; 030300* - Natural Gas- Drilling, Production, & Processing

Citation Formats

Dewar, J, and Halkett, D. Procedures control total mud losses while drilling in deep water. United States: N. p., 1993. Web.
Dewar, J, & Halkett, D. Procedures control total mud losses while drilling in deep water. United States.
Dewar, J, and Halkett, D. 1993. "Procedures control total mud losses while drilling in deep water". United States.
@article{osti_5814638,
title = {Procedures control total mud losses while drilling in deep water},
author = {Dewar, J and Halkett, D},
abstractNote = {In the deepwater (830-1,000 m) drilling program offshore Philippines, reefal limestones were encountered in which total mud losses could be expected because of the presence of large fractures. The danger was that a sudden drop in hydrostatic head (resulting from the losses) could allow any natural gas to enter the well bore quickly. The gas could then migrate up the well bore and form hydrates in the blowout preventers (BOPs). Once hydrates form, they are difficult to remove and can make a BOP stack inoperable. To combat this potential problem, containment procedures were developed to cope with these fluid losses. The philosophy behind the procedures was to prevent hydrocarbons from entering the well bore and, if they did enter, to ensure that they did not move up the well bore and into the riser. Additionally, procedures were developed to allow drilling to continue during the losses and the curing of losses.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5814638}, journal = {Oil and Gas Journal; (United States)},
issn = {0030-1388},
number = ,
volume = 91:44,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1993},
month = {Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1993}
}