SPE/IADC-173825-MS

MPD/MCD Offshore Application on a Dynamic Positioning Rig

Andre Alonso Fernandes, Danilo Signorini Gozzi, Emmanuel Franco Nogueira, Felipe de Souza Terra,
Guilherme Sirqueira Vanni, and Rafael Schettini Frazão Filho, Petrobras

Copyright 2015, SPE/IADC Managed Pressure Drilling and Underbalanced Operations Conference and Exhibition

This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE/IADC Managed Pressure Drilling and Underbalanced Operations Conference & Exhibition held in Dubai, UAE,
13–14 April 2015.

This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE/IADC program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s).
Contents of the paper have not been reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers or the International Association of Drilling Contractors and are subject to
correction by the author(s). The material does not necessarily reflect any position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers or the International Association of Drilling
Contractors, its officers, or members. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper without the written consent of the Society of Petroleum
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illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous acknowledgment of SPE/IADC copyright.

Abstract
A common Pre salt offshore well from Santos Basin in Brazil has a water depth superior to 2000m (6500
ft) about 2000m of salt and produce from a carbonate reservoir. The Pre-salt reservoir is a major driver
on future production development for Petrobras.
After several cases of severe circulation losses in the Pre-salt wells of Santos Basin, including the area
of the well RJS-708, the previous drilling strategy was not proving to be reliable or effective. Loss control
pills were ineffective while cement pills were time consuming and not providing satisfactory results. In
this scenario arose the opportunity to apply the techniques of MPD (Managed Pressure Drilling) and MCD
(Mud Cap drilling) as a contingency on the well RJS-708.
The well had prediction of fractures or caves along the carbonate reservoir with high probability of
circulation losses during the drilling of the reservoir phase. The potential benefits of the MPD technique
were large due to the possibility of minimizing the volume of fluid lost to the formation through the
management of downhole pressure. The MCD technique was also considered as contingency plan, for a
scenario of total losses because of the inexistence of a drilling window, even considering the downrole
pressure management near balanced.
The work performed during 2013 included: Modification of the rig, training of the teams involved,
preparation of MPD and MCD procedures for the drilling rig (First DP rig to use the system at Petrobras)
and discussions of new procedures with the contractor. From the list of new procedures included the
Dynamical Pore Pressure test, which proved to be a useful tool.
The results obtained with MPD technique were excellent. In order to remain inside operational
window, an underbalance mud weight with management of the surface back pressure was adopted to
remain in an overbalance condition in front of the reservoir. The MPD system managed to be inside an
operating window of 0.25 ppg without significant losses, and a time deviation of less than 4% from the
initial schedule and no severe losses were observed during the construction of the well

Introduction
Located in the Brazilian continental shelf the reservoirs of oil and natural gas under salt layers are known
as pre-salt layer. Santos Basin Pre Salt drilling began back in 2006 when the first exploratory well hit the
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carbonate reservoir. Several appraisals and other wildcat wells followed the first successful pioneer well
in a very strong exploratory campaign as the pre-salt layer extend for 800 kilometers along the Brazilian
coast.
The development of the pre-salt fields started in 2009 and grew a lot alongside exploratory drilling that
kept till 2013. Till 2012, drilling issues such as water depth greater than 2,000 m, long and unstable post
salt section, stuck pipe due salt creeping and low ROP in carbonate section were relatively easily
overcome by better rigs, enhanced well configuration and drill bit technology.
Santos Basin Pre Salt wells have several configurations, but follow about the same guidelines.
Conductor usually is drilled and cemented, followed by a long surface phase drilled with 26” PDC bit,
PWD, LWD and mud motor, that usually reaches the salt layer, where the 20” casing is set and cemented.
When the post salt section is too long or too unstable, a large bore configuration is adopted, where the 22”
surface casing is set in the post salt and an 18” liner is set in the salt allowing drilling the whole salt layer
in only one phase. Salt is usually drilled in 16” or 17 ½” PDC bit using PWD, LWD, heavy synthetic oil
based mud to avoid salt creeping and rotary steerable, both to deviate the well, in case of directional
drilling, and also to avoid wellbore deviation in vertical drilling. Intermediate 13 5/8” casing is set and
cemented in the top of the reservoir that is usually drilled in 12 ¼” with impregnate bit, turbine BHA,
LWD, PWD also with synthetic oil based mud. The production casing is a combined string with 10 ¾”
and 9 5/8” pipes to allow using a 6 5/8” tubing that is set and cemented in the bottom of the well.
Few wells have experienced severe or total mud losses in the reservoir section before 2012. This was
a known risk and was considered manageable, but it became much more frequent. During 2012, several
wells faced huge mud losses leading to great NPT and, in some cases, it wasn’t feasible to reach TD
safely. On these cases, the wells had to be plugged and abandoned before reaching its goals.
The mud losses occurred in different scenarios during development drilling of known fields, and also
in exploratory wells in different geological environments.
This new reality showed that severe / total mud losses could be a serious risk to reach the oil recently
discovered in a safe and economical manner and also, this problem could grow in time due the possible
reservoir depletion during production. Petrobras looked for a solution that could both reduce the
probability of mud losses occurrence and also could enable safe drilling and completion deepwater wells
in total mud losses scenario. The solution found was managed pressure drilling and mud cap drilling.
A dedicated project and execution team was formed and the Ocean Valor rig was selected for the
project. It took 7 months from the project start up to the well spud, including well designing and
engineering, rig preparation and teams training.
The well was selected because it was forecasted occurrence of severe mud losses in the reservoir
section. Using MPD technique with statically underbalanced fluid, setting the anchor point in the top of
the reservoir, where the pore pressure gradient was higher made it possible to safely drill the well. As
expected, mud losses occurred, but in a controlled rate, especially due the reduced overbalance applied.

Uncertainties for MPD and PMCD

The correlational wells presented severe losses scenarios during the drilling of the main phase. These
losses occurred using the minimal overbalance possible with conventional drilling technique. The mud
weight was 0,2 ppg above the formation pore pressure and with the increment of the annular friction losses
it was enough to activate the faults in the weak zones. Once the faults where activated, the use of loss
control material pill proved to be ineffective. The solution for these cases was the use of several cement
plugs. Further reduction of the mud weight was not recommended as hydraulic simulations indicated that
heave movement would induce a kick because of the swab during connections.
The MPD technique allows operating on a narrower window when compared to conventional drilling
technique. By using the ability to rapidly change the surface back pressure the well pressure profile can
SPE/IADC-173825-MS 3

be adjusted according to the operational need. Using the concept of anchor point on the weakest point of
the open hole it was possible to reduce pressure variation on the critical zone.
Even with the ability from MPD technique of creating virtually no pressure variation on a selected point
of the well, one of the possible scenarios was that there would be no operational window. The seismic also
indicated the possibility of fractures and micro fractures on the well path, which on correlational wells
where linked to loss events.
Considering this, it was decided that the rig should be able to implement a MPD operation, and if
needed, be able to convert the operation to mud cap drilling (MCD) on the scenario of severe losses with
no operational window available.
MCD consist of drilling with no fluid and cuttings returns to the surface, with these being pumped into
highly permeable formations, such as depleted zones, fractured or large cavities formed by dissolution of
rock. It can also be used to increase the safety of drilling in reservoirs with toxic gases such as H2S.
During the operation, a fluid is injected into the column as in conventional drilling, being lost into the open
fractures along with cuttings. For this fact, the fluid used is called sacrifice fluid (SAC) and usually is
water (sea water in offshore operations), for economy and availability issues. The flow rate pumped
through the string must be sufficient to carry the cuttings to the fracture and to attend BHA requirements.
For mud cap drilling application two variants where evaluated: Float Mud Cap Drilling (FMCD) and
Pressurized Mud Cap Drilling (PMCD).

Figure 1—PMCD (left) and FMCD (right) Definition Diagram

Float Mud Cap Drilling (FMCD) is the simplest variation of mud cap drilling. The fluid level on the
annular falls until pressure is balanced by the formation with the lowest pressure equivalent pores. When
there is an inflow, the level of the annular tends to rise and a heavy fluid is injected (mud cap) to maintain
the level in the original point and below the surface. This ensures that the inflow is re-injected into the
formation and prevents the return up to the surface. It should be clear that the FMCD is considered an open
system, i.e. no pressure on the surface. One or more valves are installed on the column to prevent counter
flow. BOP pressure sensors where considered in order to keep track of the annular pressure. To assure that
no inflow would reach the surface it was decided that a continuous pumping through the annular would
be done in case FMCD was to be used.
Pressurized Mud Cap Drilling (PMCD) is also called light annular MCD. It is a closed-circulation
drilling system, usually at the surface through an RCD. It is used with an annular fluid with density below
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the lowest formation equivalent density existing in the well formation (light annular mud or LAM). Thus,
when closing the annular at the RCD a pressure on the surface is generated. In the case of offshore drilling,
it must be considered the operating pressure of RCD and other equipment installed in the riser system.
PMCD is done keeping the pressure within a certain range of values by adjusting the LAM weight. The
possibility to monitor the variations in the annular pressure (by monitoring the surface back pressure) is
beneficial in the drilling control point of view, as it is a direct indication of what is happening at the
bottom and it allows a more efficient fluid injection program, consequently, avoiding large losses of fluid
for fractures and extensive damage to the formation. If there is an influx or migration, pressure in the
annular will increase proportionally with no pressure increase in the drill pipe. If the pressure raise limit
is surpassed, additional fluid is injected into the annular forcing inflow back into the formation.
Comparing both techniques, it was decided that if MCD was needed the PMCD technique would be
applied. The main reasons for deciding in favor of PMCD over FMCD are the fact that with PMCD there
is always a closed system on the annular and because of logistics problems. The closed loop provides a
more direct measure on the annular, providing an easier assessment on the annular situation, closer to what
is done on conventional drilling. Another benefit of PMCD over FMCD is that annular injection is done
only when needed; as the closed system provide direct information and the pressure range for the annular
can be stipulated. In that way the amount of fluid injected through the annular for the phase is reduced
when comparing PMCD and FMCD, reducing the possibility of damage to the formation.

Project philosophy MPD with underbalance fluid serving as LAM

Several hydraulic studies where made for different MPD scenarios. Mud weight was altered on 0,1 ppg
steps for oil base mud and water base mud. Some of the factors considered to define mud type and weight
where: Hole cleaning, surface backpressure variation, hydrate formation in case of an influx, gas
migration speed, surge and swab and logistics.
The simulations for hole cleaning, when using fluid with the same rheology normally used on
conventional drilling, where not sensitive to mud weight variation expected to the MPD. The rheology
used is high enough to not be sensible to a 10% mud weight variation, which would be more than needed
to cover all pressure uncertainty range.
Oil base mud is not sensible to hydrate, in case of an influx. Another benefit for oil base mud is that
the gas migration speed is considerably smaller, according to simulations, when compared to water base
mud. This characteristic is extremely important when considering that the rig used is a semi-submersible.
Even a fifth generation rig has limited capacity for fluid storage. Considering that the well is located over
200km from the port, logistic is an important part while planning the fluid strategy.
On a PMCD scenario the well annular would be filled with LAM and the pressure reading on the
surface would be the difference between the hydrostatic pressure from the LAM and the formation pore
pressure. Once fluid from the formation start migrating to the annular the hydrostatic pressure from
annular fluid would reduce as mud is replaced with hydrocarbons (oil or gas) and this would cause an
increase on the surface back pressure. The amount of pressure increase allowed before bullheading the
influx back to formation depends on the pressure limits of surface equipment, friction losses while
bullheading and formation resistance.
The bullhead flow rate and the frequency of cycles was defined based in the Gas migration speed. The
bullhead rate must imply a greater downhole speed on the annular than gas migration rate in order to push
any influx back to the formation. The total volume of bullhead cycle will depend on the difference
between gas migration speed and bullhead annular speed, the amount of influx on the annular and the
desired safety factor. A higher migration speed inflict a faster surface back pressure increase and a faster
increase means a smaller time to reach pressure limit before bullheading, thus increasing the frequency
of cycles.
SPE/IADC-173825-MS 5

Although it is possible to fabricate water base mud on the rig, the fabrication rate is not enough to
compensate the additional injection rate to the annular when compared with oil base mud. With all the
factors considered the fluid type was defined to be oil base mud.
During the discussions for the fluid program it was stated that four different fluids would have to be
managed for a MPD/PMCD operation: Drill Mud, SAC, Viscous pills and LAM. The circulation system
on the well (active tank ⫹ column ⫹ open hole annular ⫹ casing annular ⫹ riser annular) surpass 4.000
bbl, in order to attend all scenarios it would not be possible to have the total amount on surface plus the
volume to feed losses. After analyzing the hydraulic simulations it was decided that the drilling fluid to
be used would be statically underbalance. In that way the drilling fluid used on MPD would automatically
serve as LAM.
At first the idea of drilling with statically underbalance fluid sounds dangerous, as the fluid is not
anymore a well barrier by itself only. In addition to the fluid there is the RCD to perform as a first barrier.
Considering from the perspective of a dynamical positioning rig, a scenario of disconnection with static
underbalance fluid on the well would be similar to a scenario of disconnection with a fluid without riser
safety margin. The difference of pressure bellow the BOP while comparing a scenario of a static
underbalance fluid on the well and a scenario without riser safety margin is less than 300 psi. In case of
catastrophic failure of the RCD there were 3 annulars that could close the well (1 from the surface and
2 from the BOP). During the HAZID the evaluating group agreed that the same equipment used when
drilling with a fluid without riser safety margin would be suitable for drilling with static underbalance
mud.
The main driver for using MPD on the project was the ability to have the anchor point set at the casing
shoe, place with highest equivalent density pore pressure and lowest fracture pressure. The pore pressure
prediction from the reservoir had 4% uncertainty. This amount of uncertainty meant that a fluid designed
for the scenario of original reservoir pressure could not attend the requirement of being underbalance.
After analyzing the hydraulic of different mud weights it was decided to use a mud weight more
underbalance than earlier predicted. The lighter mud reduces annular hydrostatic pressure, increasing the
surface back pressure needed. The final mud weight was decided with the premises of PMCD. In that way
the mud weight wouldn’t need to be reduced in case the reservoir was found with some depletion, which
is a time and resources consuming operation.

DPPT
The use of original pressure, or maximum predicted pressure, when deciding the mud weight is common
practice on a conventional drilling project as mud is the primary safety barrier. That approach causes the
well to be overbalance to the formation, especially when drilling depleted formation. The information of
the real pore pressure is crucial when drilling on fragile formations, because it permits the reduction of
the mud density and the pressure in front of the formation, reducing the overbalance and consequently the
risk of activating a fault or inducing losses.
Some companies offer BHA tools with the capacity of measuring the formation pressure and sending
this information while drilling. The main problems of using these formation pressure tools are:
– The necessity of drilling a head of the formation before being able to measure the pressure, as the
pressure probe is distant from the bit;
– The fact that only one point of the formation will have the pressure reading. On heterogeneous
formations different pressure readings along the well can be measured, even for horizontal wells.
– The uncertainty of the measurement, there are history cases where pressure readings from BHA
tools where different than those obtained from formation test.
The alternative to measure the maximum pore pressure from an open hole section is to perform a dynamic
pore pressure test. The development of this technique was possible because of the availability of the MPD
6 SPE/IADC-173825-MS

system with the Coriolis and the “early kick detection” in the MPD control system. The Coriolis has the
capability of measure, with a high precision, the flow out that is returning from the well. Associated with
the flow in control (requires the efficiency tests to be performed prior to the operation, to assure the
precision of the mud pumps) the system provides a very precise kick detection capability. Historical data
from the system indicates that it is possible to identify a kick (flow out higher than the flow in) with a pit
gain lower then 2 barrels in real situation. After the kick is detected by the system the surface backpressure
is increased to a previous value to bring the flow out to the same rate of the flow in. With this capability,
it is possible to decrease the bottom hole pressure in small steps to identify the real pore pressure in a safe
and controlled operation. The maximum pore pressure that can be measured with this method is equal to
the mud weight in the well during the operation. If the pore pressure is lower than the mud weight, the
procedure will not be able to measure it. Another limit of this methodology is that it can measure only the
maximum pore pressure in the open hole and it cannot identify precisely where the maximum pore
pressure depth is.
There are 2 possible ways to perform a DPPT – Static and Dynamic Pore Pressure Test. The MPD
System is used to reduce the BHP until it equalizes with the formation pressure. In both methods the SBP
is reduced in small steps to a pressure where flow in deviates from flow out.
Dynamic Pore Pressure Test is performed with rotation, pumping down the drillstring, using the active
system, with returns through the primary flow line using the MPD Choke manifold. The Pore Pressure is
determined by APWD reading at the time of influx. This is the preferable option as it is the closest to
drilling situation. Static Pore Pressure Test is performed by closing loop circulation through the Booster
Line while holding SBP. Pore Pressure will be determined by Mud Weight in the hole (static), Applied
Surface Back Pressure and Friction Losses at the Riser. The result from the static DPPT is transferred to
the dynamic situation according to the hydraulic model, which must be calibrated. The static DPPT permit
lower downhole pressure as the friction losses from the casing annular are eliminated.
The dynamic pore pressure test is conducted in steps decreasing the surface back pressure while
monitoring for indication of variation on the return flow of the Coriolis meter. At the point where the flow
out increases the surface back pressure is increased until the initial value. As this is a new operation and
imply some risks a very conservative approach was taken. The pressure steps on surface where of 25 psi,
which implied an equivalent density reduction of less than 0,03 ppg in front of the reservoir, that way in
case of an influx the pressure difference would be less than 25 psi and the flow rate of the influx would
be reduced to a minimum. Also to ensure that the test would be done in a safe manner, it was decided that
a dynamic flow check of 15 min would be done between steps, so there would be no risk of not detecting
an influx and decreasing more the pressure.
At the main reservoir of 708 well the total amount of pit gain was 1,5 bbl. As the test was done in a
dynamic way with drilling flow rate, and the mud used was oil based, after the circulation of one bottom’s
up the mud logging’s equipment and the rig gas detectors did not read anything unusual when compared
to a normal drilling situation. It is worth noting that before the bottom’s up reached surface the flow was
deviated for the mud gas separator for precaution. There was no noticeable increase on surface pressure
during the circulation of the botttom’s up, this probably due to the fact that the influx must have been oil
only. The simulation done prior to the operation considered an influx of gas and the predicted surface
pressure increase was below of 50% of the MPD equipment capacity.
Buffer manifold
After analyzing the piping and instrumentation diagram from the first rig on Petrobras system that was
designed and installed for the MPD it was noted that some flexibility was needed in order to perform a
flexible MPD and PMCD operation with minimal impact on operation. The solution found for this was
the development of a buffer manifold. This manifold is designed to allow changing the lineup of returns
during the different operational scenarios drilling in MPD/MCD modes.
SPE/IADC-173825-MS 7

Another advantage from the buffer manifold is that the main valves required for MPD and PMCD
operations are close together, decreasing the chance of a valve misalignment. For the first application the
buffer manifold valves where manually actuated, but on future application it is being recommended that
the valves have the capability to be remotely operated. This requirement will give the advantage of
reducing the chance of valve misalignment, and make faster and easier to change and verify alignment
during operations.
Risk Management of the project
It was the first time that a MCD operation would be conducted in an offshore DP rig in Petrobras. Because
of this, a very robust risk management system was implemented in the project, since the design phase until
the end of the construction of the well.
For the design phase of the project a HAZID (Hazard Identification Study) was carried out to identify
risks concerning the MPD system operation and the modifications implemented in the Rig. Based in the
HAZID results, a risk mitigation plan was implemented. The plan consisted of rig modification adjust-
ments, creation of contingency operational procedures, creation of a matrix of training requirements and
well design adjustments.
Later on a HAZOP (Hazard and Operability Study) was conducted to test the rig modifications layout
and the procedures already defined at that moment. The necessary corrections identified for the procedures
were implemented based on the results of the HAZOP, together with additional contingency procedures.
For the well design and construction a DWOP was planned and executed near the time to spud in the
well. The DWOP was done after the well design was considered mature enough to be implemented and
to make sure that almost all the risk were already identified and mitigate. The prime objective of the
DWOP Meeting was to transfer in the best way possible the knowledge from the well design team to the
well execution team
Additionally to the DWOP, for each drilling phase of the well, a specific Preliminary Risk Analysis was
conducted to mitigate the operation risks.
One of the main points in the risk management system in this project was the training of the crew. For
this operation, a list of specific trainings was defined and created for the people involved in the operation.
Basically the matrix consisted of 3 different levels of training being the level one the most basic and the
level 3 an operational training that could be done only in the rig with the MPD system installed. Every
person that went on board of the rig should had at least the level one training, and a routine of control and
training on board was implemented.
A lot of rig time was allocated to the crew training. All the level 3 training was conducted on the drill
floor, with every new member that came onboard (if the training matrix required it) and none of this time
was considered nonproductive time.
As part of the training requirements for this project it was defined that MPD would be used to drill the
phase prior to the reservoir. There was no need concerning the operational window in this phase or
circulation loss risks but it was identified that using the system for the first time in a challenging situation
would bring unnecessary risk. Even considering the additional time required to drill using the MPD in a
situation where a conventional drilling would perform better, the benefits considering the possibility for
the crew to know and to operate the system in a situation where basic mistakes would not bring great risks
to the operation proved to be the better solution.
Another action taken for the risk management was to have a 3rd company man on board that was
dedicated to the MPD operation. All the people that took that position have being part of the design phase
of the project since the beginning and were familiar with all the procedures, equipment and characteristics
of the whole project. Together with the 3rd company man it was provided an MPD specialist on board and
one onshore from a third part company during the hole operation. Those third part specialists also took
part in the design phase since the beginning.
8 SPE/IADC-173825-MS

A special attention was taken in the management of changes during this project. Every change that
needed to be implemented in the operation was done only after and risk analysis was concluded and
approved.
DWOP
Planned since the beginning of the project, an event as a DWOP – Drill Well On Paper – was considered
to be very important. Specifically for the 9-RJS-708 well, the first well drilled with MPD for almost all
the team involved in the project and execution for the well.
Around one month in advance to spud the well, the DWOP was done At that time, the drilling project
was in the final phase, without any significant doubts about the MPD procedures.
The well project was presented to the execution team and discussed with details all the operations
planned to the MPD drilling program. It is important to mention that not only Petrobras’ members were
invited, but also representatives from the rig, MPD supplier, directional tools provider, mud company
among others. After presenting the scope of work of the well, the most important subject was to transmit
the basic concepts about the MPD/PMCD Technique. That approach was important in order to let
everybody in the same level of knowledge, at least enough to better understanding of the meeting content,
independent of the previous level of knowledge of MPD / PMCD of each people on the meeting.
During the event the transmission of knowledge and industry success cases helped to eliminate
prejudgment of the public that the MPD / PMCD Technique were less safe than the conventional drilling.
To do that, any different point from the conventional drilling was detailed explained why and where it was
different. I was also shown that the specific procedures and equipment required used on MPD resulted on
safer activities than conventional drilling.
The participation from the consulting company contracted was decisive for the education and knowl-
edge transfer to the participants of DWOP event, as it gave reliability on the decisions and solutions
proposed to the group.
Results for the main phase
An analysis of results requires prior knowledge of the expectations created before an evaluating event has
begun. In this case, an evaluating event refers to an offshore oil well construction which, in the majority
of times, creates expectations regarding the fulfillment of a project’s original scope along with a consistent
duration that represents what was planned beforehand. When both are met, it can be said that results were
successful. The main goal of this section is to present the results after drilling the reservoir using Managed
Pressure Drilling (MPD) technique at 9-RJS-708 (ADR Franco Sul) location.
9-RJS-708 was one of the first wells to be drilled in the old Franco area, which is now known as Búzios
area. It was considered a strategic well to determine the reserve boundaries through the observation of its
impact on the long duration test that was taking place at 2-ANP-1-RJS, the area’s pioneer well. This
information would help planning more efficiently the development of the field for production. Alongside,
since the amount of information was too short at the time, the reservoir’s data acquisition was also
important for modeling the field, specifying the right metallurgy of equipments/materials and deciding the
next locations for maximum oil return.
The strategic component, along the difficulties presented during reservoir’s drilling in correlated wells
due to narrow operational windows which led to massive losses of drilling mud, demanded a precise
planning and the use of new technologies that would enable to accomplish the goal of fulfill the original
scope and, therefore, acquire valuable information for the field’s development. The first step was to apply
a new drilling concept to Petrobras reality. One that was applied a few months before, for the first time
at the company, in a different scenario: Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD). Secondly, a group of engineers
and specialists was gathered to work in a dedicated manner in this project, focused primarily on assuring
the installation of MPD system accordingly to specification, risk analysis, MPD procedures and detailed
SPE/IADC-173825-MS 9

operational sequence to achieve the main goal of drilling to total depth respecting Petrobras and brazilian
regulations.
The results obtained after drilling the reservoir at 9-RJS-708 location can be considered well succeed.
The whole operation took place according to what was planned, which means not only reaching the total
depth (TD) with no massive losses of drilling mud, but also acquiring data information from reservoir
through logging operations, identification of water-cut depth and isolation of different zones with swelling
packers installed outside 9 5/8” production casing liner. Additionally, it was expected 138 days to abandon
the well prior to completion and the final duration was 129 days. The non-productive time (NPT) observed
along MPD operations was less than 3% of the duration of the phase. This can also be considered a
success, considering the fact that it was the first Petrobras offshore MPD drilling with a dynamic position
rig in its history. As well, it was the first offshore MPD drilling of Ocean Valor Rig.
Conclusions
The MPD technique proved to be an indispensable tool to conclude the drilling of the main phase.
Conventional drilling technique would not be able to drill on an environment with the operational window
verified on the main phase. It was observed that the fact of fully embracing the capabilities of the MPD
system, working with a statically underbalance fluid and performing the DPPT led to the success of the
intervention. The DPPT provided knowledge of the lower boundary from the operational window, while
the underbalance fluid gave flexibility to the operation to minimize the overbalance to the formation to
a minimum. A partial adoption of the capabilities of the MPD system would not be enough to achieve
success.
Of all the initiatives proposed to increase the probabilities of success, the ones that could be mentioned
as fundamentals are the creation of a dedicated group to plan and follow all the operations onboard and
also onshore, at the office, in a 24-hour manner; the extensive amount of training, including courses,
technical visits into manufacturers sites, HAZID and HAZOP meetings and a Drill Well On Paper
(DWOP) event with operational teams; and the strategy adopted during the well execution, where all the
engineers, well designers and consultants involved in the project have worked offshore along the company
men, bringing expertize and comfort to daily time operations.