IADC/SPE151140

Innovative Tubular, Hoisting, and Deepwater Rig Designs

Extend Hook Load Envelope to 2,000,000 Pounds

J. N. Brock, R. B. Chandler, NOV Grant Prideco; C. Selen, Maersk Drilling USA; J. Dugas, W. 

White, Quail Tools; M. Vasquez, A. Jonnalagadda, Statoil

Well Description Challenges Systems Involved

1. Casing string2. Drill pipe landing string and cement stand3. Top drive section, hoisting and casing handling equipment

Pre-Job Inspection of Drill Pipe Landing String and Rig Load-Path Components

Planning Phases for a 2-Million Pound Hook Load Simulation work and results Design load, landing string configuration, and safety factors

Execution Conclusions

Agenda

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• WD = 6,667 ft. (UDW)• Sub-salt

– ~14,000 ft. salt body

• Directional well = 25º inc.• Multiple CSG strings

– BBII; 6 CSG strings in place

• 14” x 13-5/8” CSG at 24,893 ft.– 18,226 ft. long tapered CSG string – 2 million pound hook load

Walker Ridge Blk. 543 #1

Tucker

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• Safely Makeup and Run 18,226 ft. of 14” x 13-5/8” Tapered Casing String– Ensure drill pipe landing string meets or

exceeds load requirements– Ensure ALL hoisting and casing running

equipment meets or exceeds load requirements

Challenge

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System I: Casing

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System II: Landing String

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System II: Cement Stand

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System III: Top Drive and Hoisting System

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• Load Path Inspection to be Conducted “On The Critical Path” for an Expected 2 Million Pound Load

• Allocated 76 Hours to Conduct the Inspection – Conducted inspection in 48 hours

• In Addition, ALL Drill Pipe Landing String and Handling Tools Were Inspected, as Well as the Surge Reduction Tool and Cementing Head

• Brake Test Conducted and Magnetic Particle Inspection of Disc Brake Conducted Right Before Running the 14” X 13-5/8” Casing String

• Slip & Cut Drill Line Right Before Running the Casing String

Performed Load Path Inspection

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Components Inspected

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• Drill Pipe Inspected To ≥ 95% RBW For Tension and Slip Crushing Calculations– SF in tension = 1.2– SF for slip crushing = 1.3

• To account for dynamic loads

Drill Pipe Landing String Configurations

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1,000 ton Hydraulically Actuated Slip Assembly

Slip and Elevator System

1,000 ton Hydraulically Actuated Elevator

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6-5/8” OD 0.938” Wall Slip-Proof Drill Pipe Landing String

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DP Landing String Safety Factors

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Planning Phase – Simulation Results (Output)

TIH Stretch = 24.6 ft.(Casing Stretch = 7.3’ + LS Stretch = 17.3’)

TOH Stretch = 32.2 ft.(Casing Stretch = 11.1’ + LS Stretch = 21.1’)

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14” x 13-5/8” Running Loads – 1.98 Million Pound (889 MT)

Directional work started at 18,000 ft.

Tripping-in simulation is spot on – see the light green line

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Execution: Running 14” x 13-5/8” Casing At 24,763 ft.

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1. Tubular Technology Has Advanced Sufficiently to Make Possible the Safe Running of up to 2 MM lbf Hook Load Casing Strings

2. Attaining Greater Than 95% Wall Thickness Drill Pipe Landing String Is Possible

– Continue tracking of drill pipe wall thickness is critical in order to sort out joints in the landing string

Conclusions

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3. Load-Path Inspection Is Critical to Ensure the Safety of the Operation

– Careful planning is required as this is done in the well program’s critical path prior to drilling this hole section

4. Tracking “Drag” During the Running of Casing Strings Allows the Forecast of Forces Associated with Heavy Casing String

– There Is a point (depth) of “no return” when running heavy casing strings

• The total of the string weight and drag prevent pulling the casing out of the hole

• Understanding this point by operations is “key” to the success or failure of landing the casing string, specifically if it comes earlier than expected

Conclusions

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5. The Challenge Involved with Setting of Larger Diameter and Heavier Casing Strings with Total Setting Hook Loads Approaching 2 MM lbf has been met by Implementing a Total Systems Approach

6. On the First Well Drilled by the New MAERSK DEVELOPER, All Rig Equipment Performed as Designed and the Crews Demonstrated Their Competency by Successfully Managing the World Record Casing Setting Operation

Conclusions

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Thank You

The authors wish to thank the management of Statoil ASA, Maersk Drilling USA, Inc., 

Quail Tools, and NOV Grant Prideco for their support and encouragement in publishing 

this paper.