Statoil DGD approach allows option to revert to conventional drilling

Statoil has two approaches to dual-gradient drilling (DGD): controlled mud level (CML) overbalanced and CML underbalanced, both with options to revert to conventional drilling at any time. Dag Ove Molde, Specialist, Drilling Technology at Statoil, explained that CML overbalanced targets depleted reservoirs, while CML underbalanced enhances the ability to safely and efficiently drill deepwater wells. In this exclusive video from the 2014 IADC DGD Workshop on 7 April in Madrid, Mr Molde talks about the drivers for DGD and how Statoil has been working with regulators in Norway to deploy the technology.