MPD applications in well construction extend well beyond drilling

Managed pressure drilling (MPD) has evolved into a versatile solution applicable across nearly every phase of well construction, not just the drilling process itself, said Helio Santos, President of Safekick. In this video interview with DC from the 2026 IADC/SPE Managed Pressure Drilling and Underbalanced Operations Conference in London on 15 September, Dr Santos discussed the wide range of non-drilling applications for MPD being explored by Safekick and the wider industry, such as running and cementing casing. He  emphasized MPD’s usefulness in confirming pore and fracture pressure, since actual downhole conditions often differ from predicted models. He also highlighted managed pressure cementing as an underused application, describing a recent case study where it helped Safekick resolve cementing challenges in a conventionally drilled section.