DAV MX CircSub deployed on Managed Pressure Drilling run in North Sea

In April this year the DAV MX was activated on a challenging MPD completions run with multiple complex technical requirements.

The client, a leading North Sea operator, required a tool with: the resilience to withstand significant differential pressure and acid breakers; the contingency capability to combat losses; and the versatility to boost displacements and drain the pipe while pulling out of hole (POOH) to cut operating time. The operator chose to run the DAV MX.

Demonstrating the tool’s resilience, the operator ran 200 bbls of acid breaker fluid through the DAV MX to break the filter cake. Designed to withstand differential pressures of 10 000 psi, the DAV MX comfortably withstood the 5000 psi required to set the completions hanger.

The operator anticipated a high risk of losses during this campaign and therefore required a tool that was flexible enough to provide 100% bypass to pump Lost Circulation Material (LCM) to cure losses at depths of 13 000 ft. Without the DAV MX in its string, the operator would have pumped LCM down the annulus from surface, a more time-consuming and expensive process.

At the end of the completions run, the operator used the DAV MX to boost circulation rates, cutting operating time when displacing from OBM to CaBr brine fluid. Finally, by enabling the DAV MX’s robust Lock Open Feature the operator was able to drain the pipe while pulling out, saving further time.

The DAV MX’s Emergency Shut off Dart (ESD) was not deployed, but formed part of the operator’s decision-making process. In the unlikely event that the tool incurred acid damage, for example, deploying the ESD would have enabled the operator to complete the run, and save an extra trip to replace the tool.

The operator completed the run as planned and cited the performance of the DAV MX as a contributing factor to the success.

Stewart Macindoe, Sales Director at Churchill Drilling Tools, said: “We’re pleased our award-winning DAV MX CircSub continues to help operators drill faster, more efficiently and at low risk. This recent North Sea Completions run adds to our strong track record and growing operator demand for the DAV MX across a wide range of applications including: coring; deviated, tapered and extended reach drilling; well bore clean up; completions and plug & abandon.”

He continued: “That operators have activated the DAV MX CircSub on more than 700 occasions reflects their confidence in its resilience, reliability and versatility to cut operating time and improve campaigns.”

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/product-news/04072018/dav-mx-circsub-deployed-on-managed-pressure-drilling-run-in-north-sea/