CMP - Controlled Mud Pressure

Managed BHP without a rotating seal

• Mud pressure control using same equipment as for RMR
• ECD control
• No seal; easy to trip out of hole
• Conventional drilling as a contingency without recovery of equipment

Some estimate that 80% of the worlds undeveloped oil and gas resources are in deep water, outside reach or uneconomical with existing technology. The CMP may reduce the drilling costs significantly and may make some of these oil and gas resources available for exploration and development.
CMP is a concept that was developed as a consequence of AGRs successful RMR, Riserless Mud Return system, which is a tophole drilling tool.
Developing a Dynamic Model which is able to simulate such a new concept, makes it possible to test out different scenarios and detect difficulties and problems with the system.
The flow in the total physical system, including drill string, annulus and riser, will be modeled with advanced transient multiphase computer models. These will be developed in the project, based on existing competence and technology. The models have a detailed representation of the geometry of the system and the real properties of drilling fluids, and will calculate the transient oscillations in the fluid flow, pressure and temperature. The models will be used for comprehensive simulations of various scenarios, such as normal operations, pump malfunctions, well control situations, performing connections, etc.

This project is sponsored by The Norwegian Research Council through Petromaks, AGR, Hydro, and PetroBras.