The course is run in collaboration with GeoPressure Technology (An Ikon Science company) and Think-Well.

This course is only available upon application. Click here to request information

Course description

Conventional HPHT (High Pressure - High Temperature) conditions (>10,000 psi and 300º F) are becoming routine drilling targets in many basins worldwide, as exploration and production examine deeper and hotter objectives, often in the pursuit of gas reserves. Ultra-HPHT and Extreme-HPHT conditions are the next frontier and will require additional technology for success. This course will equip participants with knowledge of HPHT conditions and their prediction, the data components required for well planning and issues which influence successful drilling in such conditions, and their cost implications.

Course objectives

To provide understanding of issues relating to well planning and drilling in HPHT conditions.

Course content

Theme: Understanding context for HPHT conditions and the power of pressure and equivalent mudweight plots for well planning.

• Introduction to HPHT
• Causes of high pressure and temperature conditions
• Predicting high pore pressure (PP) and temperature (+ uncertainties)
• Estimation of fracture strength (FG) and overburden (OG) gradients
• Use of offset data to calibrate pore pressure (PP), FG and geothermal gradient estimations/predictions
• Case Studies and worldwide HPHT examples

Theme: Well design and uncertainty and the impact on well risked cost.

• Handling a narrow hydraulic window - what is the problem?
• Identifying data anomalies (e.g. RFT/MDT, LOT) and their impact on well plans and contingencies
• Casing design
• Mud design - OBM, WBM, FORMATES
• Losses and gains and update of well plan during operations
• Longer term implications of well plan in HPHT production wells
• Case Study from Trinidad

Training instructors

The training courses we offer are instructed by the Managing Director of GeoPressure Technology, Dr Richard Swarbrick and Steve Walters and Eric Low from Think-Well. As a world expert in oilfield pressures, Richard is also an instructor for the Geoscience Training Alliance and the AAPG Continuing Education Program.

Who should attend

The course is designed to appeal to geoscientists and engineers involved in planning HPHT wells. In particular the course will assist geoscientists to appreciate the requirements and implications of pore pressure and fracture gradient estimation on well design and cost.

This course is only available upon application. Click here to request information