EC-Drill®
Dual MPD system
Combining the best of Surface Back Pressure (SBP) and Controlled Mud Level (CML) for the ultimate MPD system.
What Is EC-Drill® Dual MPD?
EC-Drill® Dual MPD is a Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) system where two MPD methods are combined.
It operates by default in CML mode with the ability to seamlessly switch to SBP mode to enable the best of both MPD worlds. This is achieved by adding a Riser Closure Device to the EC-Drill system.
Where Do You Apply EC-Drill® Dual MPD Technology
What EC-Drill® Dual MPD Can Do For You
- Rapid influx suppression, Controlled riser gas handling, Influx Management (IME), Dynamic Pore Pressure testing, Dynamic FIT and LOT
- Reduce casing strings in the well design with the dual gradient effect which has saved USD 5 million+ per reduced casing string. This will also increase production with larger hole size in the Reservoir
- Precise Volume Control during all well operations, even in harsh weather conditions. Providing early kick and loss detection. Influxes are detected faster, reduce influx volume and time required to safely deal with them, as well as ensuring quickly response to and mitigation of losses
- Save rig time and improve operational efficiency. Faster, and safer tripping. Avoid time consuming mud displacements; change effective mud weight in minutes not hours
- Achieve barrier requirements with Managed Pressure Cementing. Easy to apply to challenging cement operations. Improved well integrity. Replace expensive and complex specialty cements (Foam Cement, Lightweight blends and chemicals)
- Increase production and achieve completion goals. Complete wells that cannot be completed conventionally, releasing stranded reserves. Perform text-book Open Hole Gravel Packs, even in depleted reservoirs. Proven increase in production by 20% to 40% compared to offset wells
- Save Rig Time and Improve Efficiency. Well control studies have found that up to 70% of kicks occur when tripping. Tripping and Running with adjusted riser fluid level: Precise monitoring of volume in riser; Adjust fluid level in riser as required to compensate for surge/swab; Trip faster and safer regardless of depth and pipe size
- Adjust Riser Fluid Level when tripping, cementing, and drilling instead of displacing the well. 6 to 12 hours saved per displacement. Avoid having multiple mud systems on board
- Adjust the Bottom Hole Pressure (BHP) to manage depletion, pressure-ramps, narrow windows. Change BHP in minutes not hours
How EC-Drill® Dual MPD Works
Adding SBP functionality to CML, with he SBP advantages:
- Rapid influx suppression
- Controlled riser gas handling
- Influx Management (IME)
- Dynamic Pore Pressure testing
- Dynamic FIT and LOT
While avoiding the SBP disadvantages:
- Flat time with deployment and changeout of RCD (To be able to drill ahead with SBP a Riser Closure Device (ACD or DA) would be required)
- Underbalanced drilling MW
- Added time for stripping and displacements
- Large pressure variations between dynamic and static
And maintaining the CML flexibility and advantages:
- Quick detection of influxes and losses
- Volume control in all conditions (static and open hole)
- Remove rig motion effects
- Overbalanced fluid – fails to safer state
- Surge mitigation while running casing/liners
- Managed Pressure Cementing
- Managed Pressure Gravel Packing
- High uptime
- Low OPEX
EC-Drill® Dual MPD
EC-Drill® Dual MPD Visualisation tool
The simplified sketch illustrates the key components of the EC-Drill® Dual MPD system.
In normal mode in functions as the regular EC-Drill® system using the Subsea Pump Module to operate with the Controlled Mud Level MPD method.
For Riser Gas Handling or Influx Management the Dual Annulars can be closed, and the Surface Back Pressure Choke skid enabled
Case Studies
EC-Drill® Dual MPD - Influx Management
Learn how the EC-Drill® Dual MPD system safely circulating out influx with zero operating margin in Deepwater well. Safely circulating out an influx in a Deepwater well with zero operating margin.
EC-Drill® - Instant kick detection in GoM
Learn how a multi-national operator recently used EC-Drill®’s instant kick detection service to complement and enhance conventional kick detection methods during deep-water exploratory drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
EC-Drill® benefits displayed on Shah Deniz
Learn how BP drilled a top-hole section on the Caspian’s Shah Deniz field through hazardous formations in terms of shallow water/gas flow from a fixed platform usin EC-Drill technology®