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2010 - 2011 Trans-Pecos SPE Section
2010 - 2011 Trans-Pecos SPE Section
MCM Elegante Hotel, 5200 E. University, Odessa, TX
Rig automation is often seen only as drillfloor robots that mechanize pipe handling to improve safety. By integrating surface and downhole data with dynamic drilling models and the rig's drilling machines, we can automate and optimize the drilling process occurring below the rotary table. The resulting efficiency gain and reduced risk lowers drilling costs and creates new drilling opportunities. This presentation outlines the current industry efforts in automation to develop and implement automation tools and real-time models connected to rig control systems, for conventional rigs as well as high-end deepwater units. Florence looks at the changing roles for the rig crews, addressing concerns when deploying this new technology to various locations around the globe. He closes by discussing how drilling automation can add value to various types of drilling programs.
Origin and Behaviour of Oil Asphaltenes–Integration of Disciplines
In the last decade, traditionally engineering area of flow assurance
have arguably seen one of the most dynamic influences of petroleum
geochemistry. The "merger" of engineering and geochemical knowledge in the
development of asphaltenes technology has dynamically advanced this area of
petroleum industry. While the impact of such integration has been presented at
many conferences, the topic is still poorly appreciated. A universal asphaltene
molecule does not exist--in the diverse world of hydrocarbons fluids and its
asphalatene fraction, a single field/reservoir may exhibit significantly
different composition and dynamic behaviour. While asphaltene precipitation is
driven primarily by changes in pressure and composition, natural factors such as
source rock type, timing of oil generation, expulsion and migration, secondary
reservoir processes and alterations, and PVT conditions from source to reservoir
will affect its molecular structure, size, chemical composition and phase
behaviour. Thus, understanding both the phase behaviour (PVT) and geochemical
history of reservoir fluids is critical to the identification of potential
deposition problems during oil production. Determining factors controlling
asphaltene behaviour is best achieved by an integrated study of stock tank
liquid properties and live oil experiments. Experimental data combined with
production experience in the field can be used to establish the spatial
distribution and severity of asphaltene stability/deposition in the field.
Early understanding of the spatial distribution and behaviour of “asphaltene
problematic” fluids in a reservoir is key in the development of any oil field
and will lead to introduction of robust prevention and mitigation strategies.
Integration of knowledge and experience from worldwide operations provides an
opportunity to develop theories and predictive models, explaining fluids
behaviour ahead of the drill bit
Learn about Halliburton’s unique composite centralizer technology designed to assist casing and liner string to depth without compromising standoff or flow area. The proprietary bonding process allows for optimal fluid bypass while the very low coefficient of friction and hole-friendly geometry assists casing and liner strings to depth. The geometric layout of the blades prevent point-loading and plowing while maintaining 360˚ coverage for optimal standoff with enhanced flow by area for better mud displacement and cement coverage.
Iain has spent 26 years in the oil and gas industry and is a Product Champion with Halliburton’s Cementing Product Service Line.Iain had worked with the Protech Company for 6 years until Halliburton acquired the company in June of 2008.Iain has been an SPE member since 2006 and has co-authored several papers.He has also filed several patents while working for Halliburton. Iain has an undergraduate degree from the University of Aberdeen Scotland in International Affairs and a Masters Degree from the University of Washington in Marine Affairs.
Coiled tubing (CT) remains, at its simplest, a "hose" that can be run quickly in and out of a well, while circulating fluids, against live well pressure where necessary. It is true that the coil equipment has evolved substantially over time in reliability and size. This has enabled a change in the possible range of coiled tubing applications. However, a bigger impact is the change in the wells in which coiled tubing is called to service. Wells have gotten deeper, horizontal, extended reach, multilateral and completing across multiple zones. This has led to a variety of bottom hole assembly and process developments, and a significant shift in coiled tubing's "established" operations. Annular fracturing is one example of a now common application for CT that did not exist only a few years ago. A shift to long, horizontal wells in very tight reservoirs led to the need for multiple zone, horizontal well fracturing methods.
CT is presently one of the most cost-efficient ways of finishing these wells. This presentation lists and explains the more common, higher end CT applications in use today. It also predicts the new technologies that will come along over the next decade, some of which are already seeing trial applications today. A member will take away important learning’s related to the latest / leading edge technology that CT is being used for today such as difficult sand clean outs, world record perforating with CT, rotating jet technology, annular fracturing with CT and acid tunneling with CT in carbonate formations to name a few.
Lance Portman has spent 23 years in the oil and gas industry, most of which has
been associated with coiled tubing. Those 23 years have been spent with Nowsco
Well Service and BJ Services, spanning operational, engineering and marketing
roles, in Europe, North America and the Asia
Pacific region.
Portman has authored 21 SPE papers on coiled tubing related topics, and been published several times in industry journals such as JPT. He has also been granted four US patents. In 2008, he was nominated by SPE to teach a SPE short course on coiled tubing titled Coiled Tubing Operations and Its Applications. In July 2008, Portman moved from his position in Singapore as Region Business Development Manager – Coiled Tubing to his current position as Director of BJ Services’ Coiled Tubing Research and Engineering Canada
Surface casing failures on a group of relatively new wells prompted an investigation into the cause. External corrosion had occurred on the surface casing near the cement top between the casing and conductor and was caused by repetitive wetting events from water entering the unsealed annulus. Testing of water and cement samples indicate that the presence of oxygenated water and chemical salts that leach from the cement creates a low-resistance electrolyte resulting in an extremely corrosive environment. The oxygenated water in this environment creates an electro-chemical cell that corrodes the surface casing. Elevated casing temperatures and a high temperature gradient between the casing and the conductor accelerates the corrosion rate by creating a thermo-galvanic corrosion cell.
The damaged surface casing has been mechanically repaired on numerous wells by excavation and installation of welded sleeve patches. Inhibiting the corrosion mechanism is considered an important mitigation for surface casings not yet compromised by the corrosion mechanism.
This presentation will:
Discuss the extent of shallow external casing corrosion observed in the field
Detail the mechanisms leading to the external corrosion
Detail the mechanical repair procedures used to return the wells to service
Discuss mitigation methods and remedial treatment to inhibit corrosion on new and existing wells.
This lecture illustrates that well barrier problems are not limited to being internal and deep in the well and require expensive (i.e., rig) methods to repair. Inexpensive repair approaches "outside the box" of traditional methods can be done safely, reduce risk and provide economic value for the company. The corrosion mechanism discussion should be applicable to most oil and gas operating areas around the globe.
Jerald C. Dethlefs is a Well Integrity and Diagnostics
Engineer with ConocoPhillips in the Global Completions and Production
Engineering Group in Houston, Texas. Dethlefs has 25 years of
experience with well operations, intervention, production operations, and
drilling.
For the past 11 years, his focus has been on well integrity issues including policy, diagnostics, best practices, program management and regulatory compliance. Dethlefs has a Bachelor of Science in General Engineering, a Master of Science in Civil Engineering and a Masters of Business Administration.