Research Partnerships

Consortia Opportunities

1.      PoreSim 

2.      CBM²

3.      Well Control for Managed Pressure Drilling

Background:  This consortium was formed in 2006 for the purpose of developing knowledge as a basis for well-founded well control procedures to use with the constant bottom-hole pressure method of managed pressure drilling.   The consortium membership currently includes ConocoPhillips, Weatherford (Secure Drilling), Shell, and Blade Energy Partners (technical collaborator).  Total and Chevron were also members supporting the work that is currently being completed.  The study of alternative initial reactions to kicks that can be taken when using MPD has been completed and documented in theses and two SPE papers.   The study is based primarily on computer simulations, but the preferred methods, both manual and automated, have been demonstrated and evaluated after injecting natural gas into test wells to simulate kicks.   

Current work:  The current work is focused on procedures and predictive methods for routine kick circulation.  This work has been funded by all of the prior members and is essentially complete.  A report documenting the results of the initial reaction study, prediction of the maximum casing pressure during kick circulation, and use of a decision tree as the basis for pre-selecting the appropriate initial reaction is being prepared. 

Proposed work: The next phase of this work has been initiated and is focused on methods to detect and identify complications during kick circulation.  This is particularly important for circulating responses to kicks that rely on comparing flow out to flow in to determine when a kick has been controlled.  A reliable and sensitive method to detect partial loss of returns is particularly desirable, and a proposed method is being evaluated.    

4.      Understanding and Improving Penetration Rate Performance in Deep Drilling

Background:  This consortium was formally proposed in 2008 as a collaborative effort between LSU (Petroleum Engr., Civil Engr. and Geology and Geophysics) and Baker Hughes, with financial participation by Baker Hughes and interested operating companies.  The overall objective is to establish a well-founded understanding of the mechanisms causing slow penetration rates (<10 fph)during deep drilling (especially > 20,000 ft).  This understanding will support development of improved technologies that will enhance the economic viability of deep drilling for increased development and utilization of deep hydrocarbon resources.  The consortium has never been formally initiated despite Baker Hughes making their initial payment because an acceptable research agreement has not been realized between Baker Hughes and LSU. 

Current work:  The current research is being conducted primarily by one PETE Ph.D. student.  He has collected data on deep drilling from several independent sources that confirms the significance of this problem in multiple geographic areas, including onshore Texas, onshore Louisiana, Oklahoma, Brazil, Canada, North Sea, and the Middle East.  A very comprehensive set of data and samples has been provided for a deep Louisiana well to allow comparison and evaluation of cuttings and cuttings characteristics to formation and drilling parameters. 

Future work:  The remainder of the first phase of this project will identify and characterize the formations and other conditions present during the poor penetration rate performance experienced in the Sponsors’ deep drilling operations.  This knowledge will be used for defining laboratory tests that will be used to confirm that such tests are representative of the real situation and to support identification of mechanisms that may contribute to the problem.  The second phase of the project is expected to involve a range of different tests to quantitatively determine the significance of the most likely mechanisms that contribute to slow penetration rates in deep drilling.  The subsequent phases will be defined by consortium Sponsors and are expected to focus on identifying and evaluating opportunities improve penetration rate performance in actual operations.   

5.      Downhole Water Sink Technology Program (DWS)

Background: DWS technology has been theoretically formulated at the LSU Department of Petroleum Engineering in early 90's.  Since 1998, the DWS development has been performed under the DWS Technology Initiative (DWSTI) – LSU-based program providing R&D, technical support, and technology transfer service to the petroleum industry. The program has been supported by industrial members and funding agencies. The technology transfer component of DWSTI has been also supported by Petroleum Technology Transfer Council. 

DWS is a technology controls water invasion to vertical/horizontal wells by segregating the inflow streams of oil and water using dual or bilateral well completions so the oil can be recovered without obstruction due water coning, cusping  or under-running. Moreover, the water drained by the water sink completion is oil-free and requires minimal processing prior to downhole disposal in-situ or discharge to the sea offshore.

Over forty operators and service companies used the DWST transfer program to varying extent, from receiving information and materials on DWS, to single seminars or presentations, to one-day consulting sessions, to feasibility studies, to well design projects. The list of beneficiaries of the transfer program is available on request.

 Present Research Projects and Implementation:  The focus of present studies is to apply DWS concepts to recovery of unconventional heavy oil with bottom water without thermal treatment. Not DWS significantly increases recovery factor and eliminates steam injection in vertical wells but it also shows promise for horizontal wells.  Another variant of the technology being presently studied is Downhole Water Loop - with in situ disposal of the drainage water in the same well. Addition of the injection component to the hydraulic system  introduces new problems of injectivity reduction, nodal analysis and variable skin factor. Another topic to be studied (a proposal has been just submitted) is to use DWS concept to control water invasion to wells resulting from the mechanism of moving transition zone rather than water coning/cusping/under-running. Inability of oil recovery from large transition zones has been frequently reported.

6.      Sustained Casing Pressure Program (SCP)

 Background: Typically, sustained casing pressure would result from late gas migration in one of the well’s annuli and manifest itself at the wellhead as irreducible casing pressure. Statistics shows that the problem of leaking wells is massive, regulatory pressures are growing, and wells with SCP have to be assessed for risk to continue production. Moreover, SCP must be removed prior to P&A. Particularly difficult and expensive is the SCP removal from the external annuli. Subsea wells pose additional problem since casing pressure is not monitored.

Current and Future Work: Over last decade, LSU PETE has been involved in SCP projects for the MMS and Gas Research Institute. We have also conducted small-funded MS and Dissertation studies into SCP remediation and testing. The SCP Initiative consortium (JIP) has been proposed and is still in the process of soliciting members. The Cooperative Agreement has been routed through the LSU and is available - on request.

7.      Proposed Research Program - Consortium

 Background: The mission is to advance methods and procedures used for evaluation and testing, remediating and monitoring of wells with sustained casing head pressure to assure environmentally safe, technically feasible, and economic production and permanent abandonment of these wells. In accomplishing this mission, we will utilize scientific principles, mathematical models and software, risk theory, and full-scale experiments and support filed verification and implementation provided by the program sponsors.

 Current and Future Work: To date, the LSU team has conducted an experimental research project concerning the mechanics of the Bleed-and Lube method and factors controlling the method performance. Another SCP – related project at LSU is the technique of sealing casing annulus by top pulsation of cement slurry after the cement placement. To continue this effort, the following topics could be considered for this proposal:

 •           Testing Procedure and Portable Unit for SCP Diagnosis: Initial work in this area will be mathematical model of the shut-in and bleed off treatments of wells with SCP and its  validation. Results from the validation studies will be used to develop well testing procedures and a portable skid-mounted unit for the testing at the wellhead.

•           Criteria and Methods for Computing SCP Risk and Remediation Limits: The main objective of this study is to analyze and develop criteria for a model of risk associated with SCP and its removal techniques. The model and resulting procedures will be used to set severity limits for SCP and to select methods of remediation.

•           SCP Remediation with Annular Intervention Methods: The work will involve development of a procedure and design of installation and instrumentation for bleeding a SCP well under controlled pressure and at a very small flow rate.