Published: 11/10/2016
Published: 11/10/2016
Reaching and maintaining consistent production rates has always been on the minds of drilling managers who tend to see each project as unique, and requiring specific wellhead solutions to address the particular needs of the project.
Field-specific challenges have resulted in field-specific specifications, which are layered on top of internal specification tool boxes built from previous experience. Costs are escalated by added specifications, long lead times, and duplication. Customisation has resulted in reduced quality and reliability, the need for an increased inventory, and exposure to stranded inventory.
Buying decisions and installation are impacted, as well as servicing the equipment, as technicians must be trained each time there is a new derivative. The technicians have to understand running procedures and be able to recognise when a wellhead is not consistent with procedures for which they have received training. Field-specific equipment specifications for customised wellheads create just such a scenario. Following the incorrect maintenance procedure can result in NPT due to wellhead installation failure.
Cameron SOLIDrill modular compact wellhead system delivers the flexibility needed to avoid overuse of completely customised equipment, addressing ease of maintenance and enabling reduced lead times.
This new, versatile wellhead has the ability to accommodate different casing programmes from a single system with minimal tooling. It also can accommodate a wide range of drilling programmes (including single, dual, and completions with ESP cable penetrator). Because it is modular, the wellhead requires a reduced number of BOP connections, minimizes wellhead penetrations (no lockscrews), and through-BOP/diverter operations. This wellhead uses a self-aligning hanger and centralising features to provide the most reliable installation experience.
Design of the SOLIDrill wellhead takes a different approach than that of conventional wellheads. Instead of landing the tubing hanger on top of the casing hanger pack-off, it is installed on its own dedicated landing shoulder. This minimises tolerance stack-up issues for the completion, giving more confidence in landing in the proper position and reducing the driver for an overpull. Additionally, it allows for the conversion of the flat shoulder geometry on top of the packoff where dirt or metal shards accumulate. This in turn reduces the need to drain the stack and flush the wellhead prior to landing the packoff and tubing hanger. Installation of the wellhead can occur as much as 85 per cent faster than installation of a conventional wellhead. The angled design deflects any debris collected, which minimises the opportunity for debris build-up; the need to drain the stack and flush the wellhead prior to landing the packoff and tubing hanger can be minimised. This speeds up the time required to bring the well into production.
At ADIPEC 2016, Schlumberger is showcasing its new SOLIDrill modular compact wellhead system, designed to maximise drilling uptime while reducing costs, long lead times, and duplicated efforts, and boost optimisation.
