Thirty percent of the deepwater wells in the western South China Sea have high-pressure and high-temperature (HP/HT) characteristics. After incorporating analyses of engineering and geological environments for deepwater HP/HT wells in the Lingshui Block, the authors suggest in the complete paper that the solution for drilling problems in deepwater HP/HT wells should start with drilling fluid. Researchers have developed a novel water-based-drilling-fluid system compatible with deepwater HP/HT wells in the Lingshui Block on the basis of a conventional drilling fluid and further optimization. Most of the reservoirs in the South China Sea are not only deeply buried with a low seabed temperature but also have HP/HT characteristics in the lower part of the well interval. The low temperature of the seawater environment causes an increase of drilling-fluid viscosity in the riser and deteriorates the rheology, leading to a buildup of equivalent circulating density (ECD) that might induce lost circulation. HP/HT reservoir conditions will also result in a narrow drilling-fluid window. The drilling fluid has to be HT-resistant and must prevent overflow and wellbore instability, as well as increase the safe drilling-fluid window. The Lingshui deepwater gas field in the western South China Sea is a typical HP/HT reservoir. Its greatest operational water depth is 1688 m, and its highest well temperature is 167°C. The estimated reservoir temperature of the Lingshui Block is 176°C, with the maximum pressure coefficient reaching 2.01. This article, written by Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper , “Deepwater HP/HT Drilling-Fluid Development and Field Applications in the Western South China Sea,” by and China National Offshore Oil Corporation, prepared for the 2016 SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition, Perth, Australia, 25–27 October. The paper has not been peer reviewed. ... This article is reserved for SPE members and JPT subscribers. If you would like to continue reading, please , or
Researchers have developed a new water-based drilling fluid for use in high-pressure, high-temperature ( HP/HT ) wells. Scientists working for the China National Offshore Oil Corporation faced the challenge of developing a fluid that would be effective in the deepwater wells of the the China National Offshore Oil Corporation gas field in the western the Western South China Sea , where the temperature can reach 2.01 °C and the maximum pressure coefficient reaches 167 . In tests, a high-temperature resistant filtrate reducer was introduced along with different formulations of a hydrate inhibitor, and was found to perform steadily in the HP/HT well conditions.