Case Study: Gulf of Mexico Based Operating Company reduces drilling NPT with SLB's @balance Speed SRS

MPD Reduces Drilling NPT, Increases Wellbore Stability in Large-Hole Sections of Slanted Well

SLB worked with a Gulf of Mexico based operating company that needed to drill two large-hole sections in a 65° slanted deepwater well from a tension leg platform. The challenge was to use managed pressure drilling while maintaining well control in sections with very high flow rates, heavy cuttings load, and a risk of borehole instability and mud losses.

SLB recommended the @balance Speed sealed rotating system with an X2 large-ID housing, along with MPD equipment, software, drilling fluids, and solids control support. The solution enabled both large-hole sections to be drilled successfully to planned depth, controlled borehole instability and mud losses, and reduced total drilling NPT; the 14.5-in × 17.5-in section was drilled in 6 hours and the 12.25-in × 14.75-in section in 22 hours, with minimal wear on the system.