At-the-Bit Modification and Qualification

Offentlig prosjektsammendrag

The At-the-Bit Mud Loss Control® technology is one of its kind in the oil and gas industry providing a ‘’driller’s air bag’’ type of functionality designed for incidents with severe mud loss and partially / no return to surface causing loss of pressure barrier integrity and risk of HSE hazards. The technology comprises of a downhole tool carrying a chemical payload which can be activated remotely mechanically by ball dropping. The circulating drilling mud will displace the chemical payload from the annulus of the tool and into the drillstring bore, through bottom hole assembly and bit nozzles. Single or multiple stacked carrier subs can be used, depending on the projected severity of the mud loss. A new specifically engineered gel type payload has been developed to be used for high salinity water-based drilling mud systems. The AtB Gel™ contains a very hydrophilic polymer which will absorb water from drilling mud and formation water. This will promote swelling while being injected into the loss zone. The gel will create a highly viscous, sticky, and glue-like mud loss barrier in porous and fractured formations as well as enhancing wellbore stability. The At-the-Bit Mud Loss Control® technology can be applied not only for drilling service purposes, but also for P&A (plug and abandonment) operations and water shut-off in oil and gas producing wells.