Implementation of HPHT RSS for Performance Improvement in Deep Shale Gas Drilling

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juntao Yan ◽  
Yongqiang Fu ◽  
Chengfeng Guo ◽  
Jeremy A Greenwood ◽  
Lingjun Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Shale Gas ◽  
Sichuan Basin ◽  
Horizontal Well ◽  
Horizontal Wells ◽  
Optimization Process ◽  
Surface Cooling ◽  
Well Placement ◽  
Bottom Hole ◽  
Thermal Mitigation

Abstract Sichuan shale gas development will move to reservoirs deeper than 3,500m TVD in the future after a production milestone breakthrough of 10 billion m3 per year from Southern Sichuan basin was achieved. 80% of Sichuan shale gas total resources will come from deep reserves compared to reservoirs at a shallower depth. Improvements in drilling efficiency are the key success factor of deep shale gas development to enhance production and cost control with the increasing activity. Due to complex engineering and geological conditions, drilling deep shale gas horizontal wells in the Southern Sichuan basin is more challenging than traditional shallower wells. The High Pressure and High Temperature (HPHT) harsh drilling environment has caused the frequent failure of the standard Rotary Steerable System (RSS), Measurement While Drilling (MWD), and Logging While Drilling (LWD) tools during recent drilling operations. The surface cooling system, combined with thermal mitigation practices, positively impacted the increasing trend of bottom hole circulating temperature (BHCT) and extended equipment life in short horizontal sections. However, thermal mitigation reduced in effectiveness with the increase in the length of the horizontal section as frictional heating increased. BHCT reached above 150degC while drilling and exceeded the operating limits of standard tools. The challenge of managing the circulating temperatures resulted in approximately 50% of the total runs in 2020 being tripped before the run objectives were met, creating non-production time (NPT) and significantly decreasing drilling efficiency. To overcome this challenge and reduce NPT, two options were evaluated. A high-temperature Motor bottom hole assembly (BHA) brought risks of poor well trajectory control, resulting in well placement issues during geosteering, and lower potential reservoir exposure. For the first time in China Shale gas, an HPHT RSS with near-bit gamma-ray imaging was selected to maximize drilling efficiency and reservoir exposure. In addition to the tool selection, an HT optimization process was created that included horizontal well BHCT modeling and prediction and deep shale gas RSS drilling best practices. The near-bit gamma imaging quality was enhanced to improve steering. These changes delivered record runs in deep shale gas long horizontal wells and significantly decreased NPT. Reducing the reliance on surface cooling systems also increased overall operating efficiency. This paper reviews the choice of equipment, implementation of HPHT RSS, and development of HT optimization process that improved the drilling efficiency, reduced well time and enhanced long horizontal well placement in this complex drilling environment.

scholarly journals Optimization of the key geological target parameters of shale-gas horizontal wells in the Changning Block, Sichuan Basin

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 571-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongzhi Yang ◽  
Xiaotao Zhang ◽  
Man Chen ◽  
Jianfa Wu ◽  
Jian Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shale Gas ◽  
Sichuan Basin ◽  
Horizontal Wells

Achieving Improved Drilling Performance with Hole Cleaning Technology in Horizontal Shale Gas Wells in Sichuan Basin of China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guodong Ji ◽  
Haige Wang ◽  
Hongchun Huang ◽  
Meng Cui ◽  
Feixue Yulong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shale Gas ◽  
Sichuan Basin ◽  
Horizontal Wells ◽  
Drill String ◽  
Operating Parameters ◽  
Optimal Operating ◽  
Horizontal Section ◽  
Drill Cuttings ◽  
Well Completion ◽  
Cuttings Bed

Abstract The horizontal section length of shale gas horizontal wells in Sichuan Basin in the south-west of China generally exceeds 2000m. Cuttings are apt to accumulate and form cuttings beds along such long and curve horizontal sections due to low cuttings carrying capacity, which often results in excessive torque and drag or even stuck pipes during drilling process. According to the statistics dada inthe period of Jan. - Oct. 2019, more than 25 stuck pipe incidents and 15 rotary steering tools loss in borehole were reported due to inefficient cuttings transportation in the long horizontal wells in Sichuan Basin. This paper studies the cuttings transportation and cuttings bed formation in horizontal wells. A prediction model for the distribution of cuttings bed was established. A monitoring and analysis software for the cuttings bed and cuttings cleaner with V-shaped spiral blades that is used to agitate the cuttings bed wasdeveloped. The software calculates the distribution and thickness of the cuttings bed according to the well trajectory, wellbore structure, drilling fluid characteristics, etc., and provides the optimal operating parameters for the removal of the cuttings bed by the rotating and reciprocating drill string. Then, the drill cuttings remover in the drill string moves to the predicted position of the drill cuttings, scrapes the drill cuttings and creates a swirling flow during the pipe rotation. The combined application of software and makeup remover can effectively solve the issue of borehole cleaning in long horizontal wells. One of the field applications was carried out in the well Ning 209H12, a shale gas horizontal well in Sichuan Basin. The well experienced excessive torque and drag issue during the tripping of drill string of long horizontal section. Thesoftware ran based on oil well data, and it determines the placement and thickness of cuttings beds in the well and calculates the optimal operating parameters for a flow rate of about 32L/s and a speed of 100rpm to remove them. By rotatingand reciprocating the drill string with recommended operating parameters along the cuttings bed interval, the removers helped cleaning the cuttings bed efficiently and significant amount of cuttings was observed at vibration screen. After cleaning the cuttings bed interval, the trip smoothly ran to the bottom without any excessive torque and drag, and then continues to drill in cooperation with the removers to the total depth. During the well completion, there was no problem with the operation of electrical logging and production casing. This cuttings removal technology has been used in other shale gas formations and tight gas formations where horizontal wells are widely used.

scholarly journals Fracturing technologies of deep shale gas horizontal wells in the Weirong Block, southern Sichuan Basin

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-70
Author(s):  
Xuejun Cao ◽  
Minggui Wang ◽  
Jie Kang ◽  
Shaohong Wang ◽  
Ying Liang
Keyword(s):  
Shale Gas ◽  
Sichuan Basin ◽  
Horizontal Wells

scholarly journals Parameter Optimization of Segmental Multicluster Fractured Horizontal Wells in Extremely Rich Gas Condensate Shale Reservoirs

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Zhipeng ◽  
Wang Jinwei ◽  
Liu Rumin ◽  
Wang Tao ◽  
Han Guannan
Keyword(s):  
Shale Gas ◽  
Horizontal Well ◽  
Production Capacity ◽  
Horizontal Wells ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Gas Condensate ◽  
Fracture Permeability ◽  
Mesh Density ◽  
Fractured Horizontal Wells ◽  
Half Length

For economic and efficient development of extremely high-condensate shale gas reservoirs, a numerical model of segmental multicluster fractured horizontal well was established considering the effect of condensate and desorption, and the optimization of fracturing segments, fracturing clusters, half-length of main fracture, fracture permeability, fracture mesh density, and fracture distribution patterns were studied. It is indicated that the horizontal well whose design length is 2,700 m performs best when it has 43 fracturing segments with three clusters in each segment and the fracture permeability is 300 mD. The production capacity of horizontal wells is positively linearly correlated with the half-length of fractures. Increasing fracture half-length would be an effective way to produce condensate oil near wellbore. An effective fractured area can be constructed to remarkably improve productivity when the half-length of the fracture is 50 m and the number of secondary fractures is four in each segment. On the basis of reasonable fracture parameters, the staggered type distribution pattern is beneficial to the efficient development of shale gas-condensate reservoirs because of its large reconstruction volume, far pressure wave, small fracture interference, and small precipitation range of condensate.

Enhanced Geothermal System Model for Flow through a Stimulated Rock Volume

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila Zeinali ◽  
Christine Ehlig-Economides ◽  
Michael Nikolaou
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
High Temperature ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Horizontal Well ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Horizontal Wells ◽  
Geothermal System ◽  
Enhanced Geothermal System ◽  
Well Pattern ◽  
Flow Through

Abstract An Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) uses flow through fractures in an effectively impermeable high-temperature rock formation to provide sustainable and affordable heat extraction that can be employed virtually anywhere with no need for a geothermal reservoir. The problem is that there is no commercial application of this technology. The three-well pattern introduced in this paper employs a multiple transverse fractured horizontal well (MTFHW) drilled and fractured in an effectively impermeable high-temperature formation. Two parallel horizontal wells drilled above and below or on opposing sides of the MTFHW have trajectories that intersect its created fractures. Fluid injected in the MTFHW flows through the fractures and horizontal wells, thus extracting heat from the surrounding high-temperature rock. This study aims to find the most cost-effective well and fracture spacing for this pattern to supply hot fluid to a 20-megawatt power plant. Analytical and numerical models compare heat transfer behavior for a single fracture unit in an MTFHW that is then replicated along with the horizontal well pattern(s). The Computer Modeling Group (CMG) STARS simulator is used to model the circulation of cold water injected into the center of a radial transverse hydraulic fracture and produced from two horizontal wells. Key factors to the design include formation temperature, the flow rate in fractures, the fractured radius, spacing, heat transfer, and pressure loss along the wells. The Aspen HYSYS software is used to model the geothermal power plant, and heat transfer and pressure loss in wells and fractures. The comparison between analytical and numerical models showed the simplified analytical model provides overly optimistic results and indicates the need for a numerical model. Sensitivity studies using the numerical model vary the key design factors and reveal how many fractures the plant requires. The economic performance of several scenarios was investigated to minimize well drilling and completion pattern costs. This study illustrates the viability of applying known and widely used well technologies in an enhanced geothermal system.

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