Reservoir screening criteria for underbalanced drilling
- Hycal Energy Research Labs. Ltd., Calgary, Alberta (Canada)
Properly designed and executed underbalanced drilling operations can eliminate or significantly reduce formation damage, mud or drill solids invasion, lost circulation, fluid entrainment and trapping effects, and potential adverse reactions of drilling fluids with the reservoir matrix or in-situ reservoir fluids. The key to selecting appropriate reservoir candidates is achieving a balance of technical, safety and economic factors. Not every reservoir is an ideal candidate for an underbalanced drilling operation and in some cases distinct disadvantages may exist in trying to execute an underbalanced drilling operation in comparison to a simpler more conventional overbalanced application. Extensive field experience has played an important role in determining the following key criteria and design considerations that should be examined when evaluating a well. Screening criteria are also provided to help operators ascertain if a given formation is, in fact, a viable underbalanced drilling candidate.
- OSTI ID:
- 445643
- Journal Information:
- Petroleum Engineer International, Journal Name: Petroleum Engineer International Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 70; ISSN 0164-8322; ISSN PEEID4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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