The offshore drilling industry needs efficiency gains and cost savings as never before. Fortunately, managed pressure drilling can provide both cost savings and, just as importantly, enhanced drilling safety. MPD is defined by IADC as an adaptive drilling process used to precisely control the annular pressure profile throughout the wellbore. The objectives are to ascertain the downhole pressure environment limits and to manage the annular hydraulic pressure profile accordingly. It is the intention of MPD to avoid continuous influx of formation fluids to the surface. Any influx incidental to the operation will be safely contained using an appropriate process.
The use of closed-loop systems common to all types of MPD represents a giant step forward from conventional, open-to-air drilling systems.
For nearly two decades, industry has viewed MPD as an exotic, niche technology with limited applications. Now, however, inclusion of MPD systems aboard drilling rigs is increasingly common. Further, whereas in the past the job of running MPD operations was limited to specialized third-party consultants, today drilling crews are gaining competency in MPD.
This virtual panel discussion, sponsored by ABS, brings together an operator, drilling contractor, and classification society to define MPD, detail the benefits in efficiency and safety, explore what makes a rig and crew MPD capable, and provide an outlook for the future of this important technology.
Panelists:
- Chris Scarborough, Senior Wells Engineer – Well Control & MPD for BP
- Jay Lancaster, MPD/Well Control Technical Superintendent, Seadrill
- Josephy Rousseau, Director of Offshore, Exploration, ABS
- Mike Killalea, IADC & DrillingContractor.org (moderator)
To register for this free webcast, click here. If you have already registered for this event, please be on the lookout for your login email on the morning of 26 March.
