HPHT Planning and Well Control

• Recognizing the main differences in planning/design between HPHT and standard [conventional] wells, as well as the challenges that will have to be faced
• Drilling and tripping operational challenges and practices and how to manage these effectively
• Identifying wellbore breathing [a.k.a. ballooning] and how to safely deal with this within the narrow window for mud density selection
• Practicing consistent fingerprinting and to developing procedures for the rig team
• Measuring and understanding of bottom hole pressure and the effect of influencing factors like temperature, rotation and flow rate
• Understanding the critical mud properties to alleviate barite sag and mud density control in general
• Managing losses and low fracture gradients with well bore strengthening methods
• Understanding how MPD can assist in the safe and efficient drilling of HPHT wells
• Identifying critical Early Kick Detection Systems [EKDS] and HPHT well control equipment
• Executing safe secondary well control practices, on and off bottom and handling of gas at surface, using MGS and hydrate mitigation measures
• Appreciating why crew training and optimal communication will greatly assist in achieving the ultimate HPHT well objectives

The course is meant for experienced engineers directly or indirectly involved in the delivery of HPHT wells such as office-based planning and operations well engineers and field-based operator/contractor supervisory staff. Participants to this course must have prior awareness level knowledge about HPHT well engineering and operations concepts. This is an intermediate level course.

• Differences between HPHT and standard [conventional] wells and what this entails for well design
• Impact of Pore Pressure Prediction [PPP] and understanding of kick tolerance
• Static and Dynamic Equivalent Mud Density and the factors that influence the ultimate Bottom Hole Pressure [BHP]
• Control practices such as ‘fingerprinting’ to identify what’s happening downhole
• Specific HPHT equipment requirements and advantages of Managed Pressure Drilling [MPD]
• Well control on/off bottom and dealing with kick-loss situations
• Mud management and tolerance on mud properties
• Team effort, checklists and ‘getting everybody on-board’