case studies

Identify gaps, improve practices/ eliminate train-wrecks

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CHALLENGE In high angle wells, the hole cleaning mechanisms, the application of the proper drilling and tripping practices, and the overall wellbore monitoring process is different than those used in vertical wells. Even the most experienced crews can have a “vertical hole” mentality with many misconceptions that create self-inflicted catastrophic events. SOLUTION Performing an Offset …

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Hole Cleaning

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CHALLENGE Due to logistics challenges, NAF was used for drilling the low-angle 26° section. Over the course of years, this resulted in pack-offs which in turn caused losses, bent drill pipe, and lost BHA. SOLUTION K&M Technology Group first implemented operations practices that prevented pack-offs from occurring, while investigating various avenues to arrive at an …

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Shallow Gas Reservoir Case Study

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CHALLENGE

In order to develop a deepwater shallow gas field, the feasibility of drilling a relief well, to intersect the planned vertical producing wells, had to be proven. The relief well would need to build to at least 90° inclination to achieve the required surface location separation. The relief well would need to reach horizontal far shallower from the seafloor than had ever been achieved worldwide, and high doglegs would be needed in ultra-soft formation.

ROPS Wellbore Instability Case Study

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CHALLENGE


• Target formation contained laterally variable fluvial deposits consisting of competent sands (pay zone) with unpredictable occurrences of unstable, fissile shales.
• Production lateral section drilled at 89-92° inclination and sub-parallel to bedding dip, increasing the risk of formation breakout, bedding plane instability and stuck pipe events (Figure 1). Typically, to maintain a stable wellbore, higher mud weights must be used and swabbing loads must be minimized, however geomechanical constraints in the area were limiting.
• No onsite personnel trained in identifying and reporting cavings relating to wellbore instability.
• Existing operational practices prioritized fast connections and tripping speeds, as a result previous wells experienced stuck BHAs and unsuccessful casing runs due to instability and poor management practices.

Eliminating catastrophic incidents in Extreme Reach Wells Case Study

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CHALLENGE

Drill shallow extended and extreme reach wells sidetracking from existing boreholes in a field after almost 20 years without drilling.
• Eliminate catastrophic incidents mostly related to stuck pipe, hole condition and drill string failures observed in offset wells
• Maintain an adequate drilling performance by maintaining a good weight transfer and directional control in poor consolidated sands

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