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PES2020-Prosj.etabl.støtte H2020

Pre-project - Safe and High-efficiency well drilling using advanced autonomous pressure control and monitoring

Awarded: NOK 99,999

Project Manager:

Project Number:

323997

Project Period:

2021 - 2021

Funding received from:

The goal of the SHIELD project is to research, develop and test next generation autonomous managed pressure drilling (MPD) to enable a highly efficient and safe drilling process. SHIELD will develop a breakthrough solution for autonomous high-precision pressure control and monitoring when drilling of oil wells. It will dramatically increase safety by reducing the risk of a loss of well control by +450 times and decreasing costly non-productive time by 40%. We will deliver an advanced autonomous monitoring and control system that enables effective Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD). SHIELD will utilise a sensor fusion approach, coupled with novel dynamic pressure control models and intelligent algorithms. The main technical result of the SHIELD project will be a novel, advanced, autonomous pressure control and monitoring prototype system enabled through innovative hydraulics models and breakthrough sensor technology. The prototype system will be installed and tested on an MPD-ready drilling rig operated by Enhanced Drilling Services (EDS) on the NCS in North Sea. EDS is an existing customer of our lead partner Kelda Dynamics AS (KELDA). Existing customers and wider industry (support letters Annex) are extremely keen to see SHIELD brought to market. The SHIELD system will have unique capabilities to automatically control pressure and handle advanced multiphase scenarios with gas influx. The developments envisioned include: • Estimation of downhole pressure and hydrostatics of the mud barrier. • Tracking the evolution of an influx and forecasting the resulting gas expansion. • Identifying advanced influx scenarios such as simultaneous loss and influx. • Identifying gas breaking out of solution when drilling with oil-based mud.

Funding scheme:

PES2020-Prosj.etabl.støtte H2020