StuckPipePro

Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD), including Underbalanced Drilling (UBD) technology, precisely controls the annular fluid pressure profile within a wellbore, which allows drilling of what might otherwise be economically unattainable prospects. Managed pressure drilling is often performed with the primary motivation of reducing formation damage. Therefore, increasing production and aerated fluid is commonly employed in the drilling process. In hard rock applications, managed pressure drilling is often performed with the primary motivation of increasing ROP (rate of penetration). Here air/mist drilling fluids are commonly employed. UBDPRO models the complex hydraulics for compressible fluids including air, mist, foam and 2-phase fluids. The advanced software model can be used to optimize gas and liquid injection rates in order to control bottomhole pressure.

Whether you are drilling a vertical or extended-reach well, an equivalent circulating density (ECD) that is too low or too high can cause serious drilling problems or compromise your project’s budget. A successful drilling operation relies heavily on achieving an optimal ECD. Accurate modeling and optimized drilling hydraulics is crucial. It allows engineers to plan ahead, thus improving drilling efficiencies, reducing risk, and decreasing non-productive time (NPT). Pegasus Vertex's HYDPRO is a comprehensive drilling hydraulics model that covers all aspects of hydraulics, including downhole circulating pressures, surge and swab, ECD, bit optimization, hole cleaning, and volumetric displacements. With these features, downhole drilling hydraulic conditions can be fully examined and any potential problems can be identified prior to field execution.