Case Study: South Texas Operating Company achieves stable wellbore pressure and reduced drilling days with SLB's MPD and VIRTUAL HYDRAULICS

@balance Services and VIRTUAL HYDRAULICS Modeling Control Abnormal Pressures While Drilling Fractured Production Zone

South Texas Operating Company worked with SLB after a previous well encountered abnormal pressures from fracture-fed gas, leading to excessive mud weights, lost circulation, well control issues, and significant nonproductive time. The operator needed a way to manage a narrow pressure window and stabilize the wellbore without knowing the true mud weight of the downhole fluid column during kill operations.

SLB implemented Managed Pressure Drilling techniques through @balance Services and used VIRTUAL HYDRAULICS modeling, along with M-I SWACO LOW PRESSURE AUTOCHOKE CONSOLE equipment, to maintain constant wellbore pressure and estimate equivalent circulating density for accurate kill pills. The result was controlled mud weight at 9.8 ppg, safer tripping, successful casing and cementing, and a reduction in days on well from 41 to 17, delivering substantial cost savings and improved well control.