Drilling advances

	Vol. 224 No. 8
ROBERT E. SNYDER, EXECUTIVE ENGINEERING EDITOR

 IADC Drilling Data Handbook. This industry best seller and the first complete drilling data handbook in both metric and standard units is a 552-page comprehensive reference manual in a sturdy paperback format, with tabbed pages for easy reference. IADC says the new edition was needed to reflect changes in drilling techniques over the past ten years. API has published new Specifications and Recommended Practices, and manufacturers have greatly improved their equipment.

 In particular, remarkable progress has been achieved in the following fields: 1) horizontal displacements over 10 km in directional and horizontal drilling, with use of more complex BHAs and drillstrings; 2) coiled tubing units are now being used almost systematically during workover, and occasionally during drilling; 3) the range of drill bits has been entirely renewed, and classifications and Used Bit Dull Grading System Format and Codes of the IADC have been modified accordingly; 4) new dimensions and weights for casings have appeared with the drilling of HPHT wells; and 5) wellhead equipment and control systems were modified to keep up with deep offshore drilling.

 The book’s contents include: general data; drillstring standards; casing, tubing, line pipe standards; capacities/annular volumes; drill bits/downhole motors; hoisting/derrick floor equipment; pumping/pressure losses; drilling mud; cementing; directional drilling; kick control, fishing; wellheads; and geology. The 7^th edition is available from IADC for US $89 (members) and $115 (list). To order, the contact is: http://www.iadc.org. 

 DOE adds three projects to Deep Trek. Three new research projects, co-sponsored by Honeywell International, Schlumberger Technology Corp. and Cementing Solutions Inc., were added to the US Department of Energy’s Deep Trek program. The program, initiated by the Department’s Office of Fossil Energy, seeks to develop “smart” drilling systems tough enough to withstand the extreme conditions of deep reservoirs, yet economical enough to make the natural gas encountered affordable to produce. Such systems can report key measurements as a well is drilled.

 DOE is contributing more than $11 million toward the three projects, the second set of government/industry co-sponsored Deep Trek projects selected by the department. Winning organizations will fund just over $5.5 million; and efforts will run for three years. 

 Honeywell will identify/develop a suite of high temperature electronic components that can be used for instrumentation in deep gas drilling. Schlumberger plans to design/commercialize an HTHP MWD tool. And Houston-based Cementing Solutions proposes a combined effort with Argonne National Laboratory and other industry partners to develop “supercement” capable of sealing drill pipe annuli between the pipe and surrounding formations, at high temperatures/pressures.

 New Tension Riser system concept. The directors of the Drilling Research Institute (DRI) have invented, and patented, a Tension Riser System that, they claim, would save several days’ time on a deepwater well, compared to running conventional subsea BOP equipment. The system would use a conventional surface BOP supported by a riser to the seabed that anchors the floating rig and keeps it on station. The concept has been proven on paper and DRI is now seeking a sponsor to take it forward to manufacture and use. 

 DRI was established in 1995 to provide comprehensive and up-to-date technical drilling reference and training materials, drilling operations support and well engineering consultancy services. DRI’s website, established in early 1996, is claimed to be the oldest established drilling web site. Working drawings and calculations can be reviewed by clicking on the Tension Riser System link at www.drillers.com. For further information, please contact Steve Redgrave at steve.redgrave@drillers.com. 

 Mechanical subsidence solution. Offshore Resource Group AS (ORG) in Stavanger has successfully concluded an EPIC contract for operator Statoil on the subsea fields Vigdis and Tordis in the Norwegian North Sea by stopping the effect of the subsidence of the base structure on the subsea production installation. The subsea fields are located in the Tampen area, due east of Statfjord field. The seabed comprises soft clays and has initiated subsidence of the subsea installation. 

 The installations’ primary base structures, which rest on the seabed, have been sinking, while the wells’ trees have maintained their position, as they are mounted on wellheads supported by 30-in. casings penetrating more stable sub-strata. Consequently, flowlines between these trees and the base structures are becoming strained. The project to find a permanent solution was initiated in 2001, while Norsk Hydro was the designated operator. ORG designed, fabricated and tested the elected solution, in cooperation with ABB, original fabricator of the subsea structures. The unique solution locks the base structures to the 30-in. casings, thereby hindering effects of the subsidence. 

 The equipment has recently been installed on a subsea installation on Vigdis, and it is planned to install similar equipment in Tordis. The concept did not require modification of the structures and was conducted with an ROV. The installation was performed at 290-m water depth. The principal idea is based on an ROV-operated system and specially developed hydraulic Power Jacks. The concept comprises two toothed steel plates which contain an expandable steel diaphragm between them. With introduction of hydraulic pressure, the diaphragm expands and presses the toothed steel plates into the two separate structures. A locking mechanism, comprised of mechanically actuated wedges, is activated and any movement between the two structures is stopped permanently.