Popis: |
In January 2007, ConocoPhillips completed what is believed to be the first well directionally drilled with casing using wireline retrievable bottom hole assemblies from an offshore installation. ConocoPhillips has considerable experience with this technology in reducing drilling days on predominately vertical land wells in South Texas. It was desired to determine if the same benefit could be realized in the offshore environment; where directional drilling is required. A candidate development well was identified in Norway on the ConocoPhillips operated Eldfisk Bravo platform that could benefit from advantages seen with Casing while Drilling. Two land based tests were conducted to confirm the ability to conduct casing directional drilling in wells similar to those expected in Norway. Simultaneously, a detailed plan for drilling the well in Norway was developed. Two production casing strings (10 ¾-in. and 7 ¾-in.) were successfully drilled directionally through the overburden section on the Eldfisk well. The well had a complex 3-dimensional well path with inclination up to 60°. All running and retrievals of the BHAs was planned to be done with wireline and a purpose-built traction winch system rated to a working load of 40,000 lbs. Once the 7 ¾-in. production casing was cemented, the casing string was converted to a production liner with an expandable liner hanger and the upper section of 7 ¾-in. was retrieved. In all, 10,968 ft of the 13,600 ft well was directionally drilled with casing. |