Underbalanced drilling guidelines improve safety, efficiency

Journal Article · Mon Feb 28 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Oil and Gas Journal; (United States)

OSTI ID:5254613

Eresman, D ^[1]

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1. Energy Resources Conservation Board, Calgary, Alberta (Canada)

In underbalanced drilling, the primary means of well control, the hydrostatic head of the drilling fluid, is lost either unavoidably because of hole problems (such as abnormally high pressure or lost circulation) or intentionally because of economics or to prevent formation damage. Because of complications with underbalanced drilling, however, several rigs have been destroyed by fire. Operational guidelines are being developed in close cooperation with industry. The final guidelines will be consistent with the existing standards of well control practices in Alberta, yet applicable for underbalanced drilling operations world-wide. Until formal guidelines are completed in Alberta, operators interested in underbalanced drilling should work closely with the Energy Resources Conservation Board in preparing site-specific programs. Although underbalanced drilling is often associated with horizontal wells, the majority of underbalanced drilling operations in Alberta are conducted on vertical wells. The paper describes underbalanced drilling, blowout prevention, surface BOP equipment (stripper, annular pack off, rotating head, rotating BOP, coiled tubing), subsurface BOP, drilling fluids, nitrified drilling fluids, surface equipment, well-site supervision, well control equipment, and the surface handling of fluids.

• OSTI ID: 5254613
• Journal Information: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States) Vol. 92:9; ISSN OIGJAV; ISSN 0030-1388
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300 -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
42 ENGINEERING
422000* -- Engineering-- Mining & Underground Engineering-- (1980-)
BLOWOUT PREVENTERS
CONTROL
DESIGN
DRILLING
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
MATERIALS HANDLING
OPERATION
PROCESS CONTROL
RECOMMENDATIONS
WELL DRILLING