Deepwater Drilling

Deepwater Characteristic- Shallow Water Flow

Shallow water flows have been encountered in
several deepwater basin around the world , in
water depths ranging from 400 to 2500 metres and
at depth 250 and 1000 metres below sea bed.
These flows typically occur in unconsollidated sand
sections while drilling top-hole intervals or during
conductor cementing. Sand tends to be produced
along with the water and if allowed to reach the
sea-bed , sand mound can be formed. When flow is
uncontrolled, very large volumes of water and sand
can be produced and extensive hole enlargement is
usually the result

Deepwater Characteristic- Shallow Gas Migration

Gas (particularly methane) is widespread beneath the
seabed in both shallow and deep water environments.
Accumulations of gas are important not only as potentially
exploitable resources, but also as hazards to dnlling
Initial bubble formation is assumed to be in the form of very
small bubbles within sediment pore spaces. These bubbles,
if allowed to mgrate unimpeded, will rise vertically through
the pore water because of their buoyancy. Consider gas
bubbles migrating through a homogeneous sediment.
Individual bubbles wIll be free to migrate through the pore
network until they encounter a pore throat with a diameter
smaller than that of the bubble.

Deepwater Characteristic- Narrow Window PP/Frac

Gradient
Long riser is required in deep water operations, the
hydrostatic pressure from the column of drilling fluid
can approach or exceed the fracture gradient,.
Significant loss of whole mud can occur, and might
lead to well-control problems. Control of the ECD, as
verified by pressure-while-drilling (PWD) data, is
critical to maintaining wellbore stability.

Station Keeping System

Deepwater rigs maintain its position over the wellhead location

on the seafloor by using either a mooring system or a dynamic
positioning system

Station Keeping System-Mooring System

Mooring systems are designed to keep rigs on location by
exerting a restoring force on the rig when metocean conditions
push the rig away from its station over the well. Anchors in the
seabed are attached to the rig using large chains or lines.

Station Keeping System-Mooring System

Mooring system configurations are often described based on the
ratio of the water depth to anchor radius as follows: catenary
mooring (typically 1:2 or greater); semitaut (typically 1:1.4); and
taut (typically 1:1).

Station Keeping System-Dynamic Positionong

System
Dynamic positioning systems are commonly used for station
keeping on Deepwater drilling rigs. These systems use
information on the rigs current location as determined by a
global positioning system and acoustic sensors to control
thrusters, which act to restore the rig to a position over the wells
center.

Marine Drilling Riser System

The rig is connected to the subsea wellhead with the marine
drilling riser system. The riser is a conduit for equipment and for
fluid circulation between the rig and the seafloor.

Marine Drilling Riser System

The tensioner suspend riser pipe and also overcome the
movement of the rig over ocean wave

Subsea Blow Out Preventer System

Subsea Blow Out Preventer System