Advanced directional CwD system pushes integration envelope to elevate efficiencies and reduce costs
Geertjan van Og A and Jeroen Burgerhout B CA Huisman Well Technology B.V., PO Box 150, 3100 AD Schiedam, Netherlands.
B Huisman Australia Services, Level 24, 77 St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA 6000, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: jburgerhout@huisman-au.com
The APPEA Journal 57(2) 676-679 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ16084
Accepted: 28 March 2017 Published: 29 May 2017
Abstract
The evolution of casing while drilling (CwD) illustrates the economic, efficiency and health, safety and environment benefits achievable with the seamless integration of downhole tools and surface drilling equipment. However, several technology gaps have restricted CwD from reaching its full potential to optimise the well construction process.
This paper describes the integrated development and application of a retrievable Enhanced Casing Installation (ECI) system, engineered to take directional (Level 3) casing drilling technology to another level and further expand the functionality of both specialised and standard land drilling rigs. The system, which enables directional drilling with composite casing and standard mud motors, differs from typical Level 3 CwD methodologies in that the composite option allows bottom hole assembly (BHA) placement inside the shoetrack, thus helping reduce vibrations and wear on the reamer and other downhole tools. Along with increased well stability and allowing simultaneous logging/measuring while drilling, the ECI device is configured with a comparably lightweight BHA, requiring fewer components, such as jars and roller reamers, making it easily retrievable with cable. As discussed, the cost-effective integration of downhole and surface equipment is clearly reflected in the capacity to rerun the retrieved bit and reamer – a marked difference between the sacrificial bits required for the commonly used Level 2 (vertical) CwD technique.
Moreover, the authors will present results of a specialised test stand evaluation and subsequent field trial, where the system was integrated on a fit-for-purpose rig and used for casing drilling at a 45° angle with the BHA pulled intact from 1800 m MD.
Keywords: casing while drilling, level 3 casing drilling.
Geertjan van Og is director of Huisman Well Technology, the joint-venture between Well Engineering Partners and Huisman Equipment, focusing on the development of innovative and integrated drilling solutions. Prior to joining Huisman in 2012, he served two years developing drilling solutions with the Well Engineering Partners consultancy in the Netherlands. Van Og began his carreer in 2000 with Schlumberger Drilling and Measurements, where he held several operational and management positions in Europe, the Caspian region and Libya. He obtained a Master’s Degree in Applied Physics at the Eindhoven University of Technology in 1998, and in 1999 received a Master’s Degree in Exploration Geophysics at the IF School in France. |
Jeroen Burgerhout has worked with Huisman for more than 15 years and is currently serving as Regional Director of Huisman Australia Services where he oversees sales and business development within the country. He joined Huisman as a Structural Engineer upon receiving a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. He was later promoted to Lead Engineer and relocated to China for four years to set up the supply chain of Huisman’s facility in Zhangzhou, before relocating to the Netherlands to manage the subcontracting team. He relocated to Perth in 2013 to begin work in his current role. |
References
Moellendick, E., and Karimi, M. (2011). How casing drilling improves wellbore stability. In ‘AADE Technical Conference and Exhibition, Houston, TX, 12–14 April 2011’. Paper AADE-11-NTCE-64.Muñoz, G., Dhafeeri, B., Saggaf, H., Shaaban, H., Herrera, D. C., Osman, A., and Otaremwa, L. (2016). Directional Casing While Drilling (CwD) Reestablished as Viable Technology in Saudi Arabia. In ‘SPE/IADC Middle East Drilling Technology Conference and Exhibition, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 26–28 January 2016’. Paper SPE-178193.
Quinlan, E., van Kuilenburg, R., Williams, T., and Thonhauser, G. (2011). The impact of rig design and drilling methods on the environmental impact of drilling operations. In ‘AADE Technical Conference and Exhibition, Houston, TX, 12–14 April 2011’. Paper AADE-11-NTCE-61.
Sánchez, F. J., Said, H., Turki, M., and Cruz, M. (2012). Casing While Drilling (CwD): A New Approach To Drilling Fiqa Formation in the Sultanate of Oman–A Success Story. SPE Drilling & Completion 27, 223–232.
| Casing While Drilling (CwD): A New Approach To Drilling Fiqa Formation in the Sultanate of Oman–A Success Story.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Warren, T., and Lesso, B. (2005). Casing directional drilling. In ‘AADE Technical Conference and Exhibition, Houston, TX, 5–7 April 2005’. Paper AADE-05-NTCE-48.
