This document outlines key insights and guidance notes for consideration, developed from an experienced group of practitioners who participated in a cross-industry workshop focused on improving the understanding and effectiveness of drilling of wells where navigating an increasingly challenging Fracture Gradient – Wellbore Strengthening – Fracture Gradient (FG-WBS-FG) windows is critical to success.
The report highlights importance of understanding of the subsurface prognosis, the range of potential pressures and the associated uncertainties which will drive the selection of the most appropriate drilling strategy.
Wellbore strengthening (WBS) techniques continue to develop to push the envelope in terms of fracture width and pressure differential that can be successfully treated.
The use of managed pressure drilling remains limited in the North Sea but has demonstrated significant benefit in the execution of tight drilling window projects.
Thank you to our collaborators:
Adura, Baker Hughes, BP, Elemental Energies, Exceed (A Kent Company), Harbour Energy, Halliburton, Ithaca, NSTA, OEUK, Petrofac, Weatherford, Wellsafe Solutions
For further information or to join the Wells Forum groups or NSTA Wells Task Force Sub-groups, please contact Keith Wise
This publication can be downloaded free of charge.
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