Unusual well control techniques pay off. [Well drilling techniques in the Elgin gas condensate field, North Sea]

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Drilling Contractor; (United States)

OSTI ID:6268292

Idelovici, J L

Well control and completion operations were seriously complicated by an unusual pressure phenomena encountered while drilling an appraisal well through Jurassic sandstones in a high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT), gas and condensate field located in the United Kingdom continental shelf. The HPHT sandstone reservoir is located in the Upper Jurassic Franklin formation. Unorthodox well-control techniques were used because it was determined that the abnormally high pressure was generated by a mechanical reaction of the rock under the effect of heavy mud and equivalent circulating density, rather than by entry into the wellbore of formation fluids. This paper reviews the complex drilling fluid control procedures which had to be utilized to maintain an open bore hole during drilling.

• OSTI ID: 6268292
• Journal Information: Drilling Contractor; (United States), Vol. 49:4; ISSN 0046-0702
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
GAS CONDENSATE FIELDS
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
NATURAL GAS WELLS
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
WELL COMPLETION
NORTH SEA
CONTINENTAL SHELF
DRILLING FLUIDS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOPRESSURED SYSTEMS
JURASSIC PERIOD
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
UNITED KINGDOM
WELL DRILLING
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DRILLING
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENGINEERING
EUROPE
FLUIDS
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MESOZOIC ERA
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NATURAL GAS FIELDS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCES
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
WELLS
WESTERN EUROPE
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
030300 - Natural Gas- Drilling
Production
& Processing