Managed Pressure Drilling Slurry Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for subterranean operations face challenges in controlling slurry circulating velocities and pressures, limiting fracture initiation and propagation, and efficiently placing protective linings without removing the drill string, leading to increased costs and risks.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a slurry passageway tool and managed pressure conduit assembly to control subterranean slurry velocities and pressures, allowing for gravity-assisted cement slurry placement and generation of lost circulation material (LCM) to inhibit fracture initiation, while maintaining the drill string in place for deeper and safer operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional methods are used to control slurry circulating velocities and pressures, then operational simplicity is maintained, but fracture initiation and propagation cannot be effectively limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts slurry circulating velocities and pressures by changing flow parameters to control fracture initiation and propagation. The controllable flow source modifies slurry flow rates and pressure levels in real-time to prevent formation fracturing while maintaining effective cementation and LCM application.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates monitoring and control mechanisms that respond to downhole conditions to adjust slurry circulation parameters. This feedback loop enables the system to maintain optimal velocities and pressures that prevent fracture initiation while ensuring effective placement of cement and lost circulation material.
2Reliability
If drill string removal is performed for protective lining placement, then lining engagement is achieved, but operational risks and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs protective lining placement and cementation operations while the drill string remains in position. By preparing and placing the protective lining and cement slurry through the existing drill string configuration, the system eliminates the need for drill string removal and subsequent re-entry, significantly reducing operational time and risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines multiple operations—drilling, protective lining placement, and cementation—into a single continuous process. By integrating these operations and performing them simultaneously or in sequence without removing the drill string, the system achieves efficient protective lining engagement while minimizing operational interruptions.
3Reliability
If cement slurry is pushed axially upward through annular passageway, then cementation occurs, but slurry losses to strata occur at upward end
Solution Approach 1:
The system inverts the conventional cement slurry placement direction by urging cement slurry axially downward through the annular passageway between the protective lining and subterranean strata. This downward flow direction, opposite to conventional upward placement, prevents slurry losses to the strata at the upward end while ensuring effective cementation at the critical upward end of the protective lining.
4Reliability
If high annular velocities are used for liner drilling, then lining placement is achieved, but fracture initiation propensity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system modifies annular velocity parameters to lower levels that prevent fracture initiation while still achieving effective protective lining engagement. By controlling and reducing annular velocities compared to conventional liner drilling, the system eliminates the harmful effect of fracture initiation while maintaining sufficient flow for lining placement and cementation operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces the propensity of fracture initiation and propagation, enables deeper protective lining placement without drill string removal, and minimizes operational costs by controlling annular velocities and pressures, ensuring effective cementation and LCM application.
Implementation Method 1
Embodiments, including a third aspect, of the present invention can use the higher specific gravity of said cement slurry to aid its urging axially downward through said first annular passageway and effectively permitting the slurry to fall into place, with minimum applied pressure.
Implementation Method 2
The embodiments of the first aspect of the present invention can be combined with embodiments of rock breaking tools (56, 57, 63, 65) of the present inventor to reduce the propensity of fracture initiation and propagation
Implementation Method 3
Embodiments of said slurry passageway tool can be provided with a flexible membrane (76 of Figures 39 to 40, and 69 to 74), functioning as a drill-in casing or liner shoe. The flexible membrane can prevent axially upward or downwardly placed cement from u-tubing, once placed, without removing the internal drill string
Data Source
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Figure 15~21
AI summary
Managed pressure drilling and completion systems and methods, usable to urge a passageway through subterranean strata, place protective lining conduit strings between the subterranean strata and the wall of said passageway without removing the urging apparatus from said passageway, and target deeper subterranean strata formations than is normally the practice for placement of said protective lining conduit strings, by providing apparatuses for reducing the particle size of rock debris to generate lost circulation material to inhibit the initiation or propagation of subterranean strata fractures.