Technical Session 5 – Downhole Tools

Editor’s note: These abstracts have been edited for space and clarity. This program is current as of 15 January 2013. Additions, withdrawals and other changes to the conference program after this date may not be reflected. Click here for the most updated program.

TECHNICAL SESSION 5: DOWNHOLE TOOLS

The Evolution of Wired Drilling Tools: A Background, History and Learnings from the Development of a Suite of Drilling Tools for Wired Drill Strings, A.D. Craig, T.A. Jackson, NOV IntelliServ; D.A. Ramnarace, R. Schultze, NOV Downhole; S. Stene, ConocoPhillips Norway; M. Herbert, ConocoPhillips Norge

This paper will summarize the development of a range of drilling tools for use in a wired drill string. The paper will focus on the history and learnings from the engineering design, field use and commercialization of wired conventional drilling tools, including jars and underreamers as well as the development of an advanced drilling dynamics measurement tool capable of transmitting downhole data through the wired drill pipe network.

Industry’s First Hydro-Mechanical Surface Controlled System for Multiple Reamer Activation/Deactivation Increases Drilling Efficiency, B.T. Torvestad, H.M. Bjoerneli, K. Toerge, L. Andreassen, Schlumberger; S. Haavardstein, ConocoPhillips

Using a concentric underreamer is a widely used technique for efficient wellbore construction. Most underreamers are fitted with lock-out systems to provide a means of drilling out the shoe-track with the cutters closed before enlarging the tool below casing. Several underreamers also provide a system to lock the tool closed after reaching TD to enable full flow while pulling out of hole for best possible cleaning. However, a major limitation these systems have in common is the underreamer cannot be reactivated once closed and the tool must be placed at top BHA due to the activation method.

To increase reamer efficiency/BHA flexibility, a new hydro-mechanical system has been developed that makes it possible to perform multiple activation/deactivation of the underreamer by manipulating the flow rate in a short sequence allowing infinite open/close cycling for selective underreaming and more flexible placement opportunities within the BHA. The concept does not require any form of device to be pumped down the drill string. The system also increases the potential to save rig time on the activation/deactivation sequence.

Downhole Vibration Analysis: Fishing Agitation Tool Efficiency in Stuck Pipe Recovery, A.K. Mohanna, P. Shwets, M. Voghell, D. Perez, National Oilwell Varco; M. Ahmed, Saudi Aramco

Challenging and costly situations to overcome in modern day directional drilling applications are stuck pipe in open hole due to differential and/or mechanical sticking forces. Chances of recovery decay with time and conventional fishing BHAs are frequently unsuccessful. By incorporating axial-oscillation technology, its fishing reliability and effectiveness improve exponentially. The fishing agitation tool (FAT) is an excitation component of the fishing BHA used to deliver low impact high energy oscillation to the engaged fish. FAT keeps the string in motion, breaking static sticking friction.

Expandable Liner Hanger Milling: North Sea Case Histories, T. Berge, K.D. Mathisen, O. Storebo, Halliburton; M.S. Muir, Maersk Oil and Gas A/S

This paper discusses the first two cases in the North Sea where expandable liner hangers were milled due to drilling issues below the liners. The milling of the expandable hanger bodies provided several benefits over conventional liner hanger systems. The benefits included reduced rig time and NPT, less well debris than when milling movable parts/slips, and no parent-casing slip damage.

Unique Motor Design Decreases Costs While Improving Performance in High-Speed Drilling Applications, B.C. Guidroz, M. Hussain, National Oilwell Varco; C. Zowtuk, D. Erlandson, Talisman Energy

Drilling in high-speed applications typically requires the use of a turbine or a uniform-rubber thickness motor. While both generate high-rotating speeds, both are limited in the output power transferred to the bit. This decreases the drilling potential of the bit, especially in hard rock applications where rate of penetration (ROP) requires high speed and power. A further limitation is the per-foot drilling cost being significantly higher than traditional drilling motors and, in some cases, preventing the use of impregnated bits in low cost markets.

A new positive displacement motor has proven that the use of turbines and uniform-rubber thickness motors are not the only choices for high-speed drilling. This new motor is similar to conventional positive displacement motors in that it consists of a bearing assembly, transmission shaft and power section. The net result is a motor that can rotate at the speeds required for high-speed drilling while generating much higher output power than existing technology.

Field testing of this new motor design has shown performance that meets or exceeds existing high-speed drilling technology with regards to ROP and total drilling time.

Planning for Successful Jarring Operations – Effective Use of Drilling Impact System Helps Release Stuck Pipe, J.L. Mercado, Schlumberger

This paper focus on the drilling bottomhole assembly (BHA) design process and best operational practices that need to be follow to assure a successful drilling operation. The authors will discuss effectiveness of the impact system and proper pre-job analysis procedures for optimum jar placement to avoid a lost-in-hole situation. Case studies are presented to illustrate how the utilization of the drilling impact system culminated in the successful execution of a jarring operation to free stuck BHAs.

E-POSTERS:

A New Standard in Wireline Coring: Recovering Large Diameter Wireline Core Through Standard Drill Pipe and Custom Large Bore Jar, T.M. Farese, H. Ahmed, National Oilwell Varco; I.A. Adebiyi, Saudi Aramco

A new wireline retrievable system capable of acquiring 3-in. diameter core utilizing standard drill pipe was designed for application in Saudi Arabia. In addition, custom large bore coring jars were designed and deployed to meet the operator’s stuck pipe prevention standards. In all, 215 ft of core was cut in 8 ³/8-in. hole size achieving 98.6% core recovery, excellent core quality and 74-hrs of rig time savings compared to conventional coring operations.

The improvement in this technology has drastically increased the efficiency of large diameter wireline retrievable coring technology, decreased the stuck pipe risk and greatly reduced the minimum amount of core needed for the technology to be economically justified.

System Reliability and Metrics for the High-Speed Networked Drill String Telemetry and Along String Evaluation, D.M. Veeningen, R. McCubrey, A. Johnson, R. Adsit, National Oilwell Varco

Industry-wide adoption of networked drill strings require that the system is a viable alternative to conventional strings in terms of expense that lower well cost through increased efficiency, improved wellbore quality and reduced risk exposure. In addition, system reliability must be demonstrated with metrics.

This paper details underlying assumptions, statistical methods and presents reliability metrics for the high-speed networked telemetry drill string.