Tuesday, 11 March 

7:00 am
Registration & Exhibit Viewing   Ballroom Foyer

8:00 am
Welcoming Remarks   Rio de Janeiro Ballrooms II & III

• Steve Kropla, Group Vice President Operations & Accreditation, IADC
• Jose Formigli, Executive Manager, Petrobras

8:30 am
Rig Design I
Moderator: Steve Kropla, IADC

• Surface BOP System for Subsea Development Offshore Brazil in 1,900 m of Water: Tor Taklo, Brian Tarr, Andy Hudson, Luiz Olijnik, Hongbo Shu, Shell, Richard Greff, Transocean

This system was used successfully to extend the water depth capability of the D.P. semi-submersible rig Stena Tay for exploration drilling activities in ultra deep water, offshore Brazil. The configuration and specifications developed for the surface BOP drilling and subsea completion system to be deployed offshore Brazil in the first phase of the Parque das Conchas development (block BC-10) that encompasses several reservoirs in up to 2,000 m of water will be presented.

• New Generation Drillship and Drilling System Enables More Efficient Deepwater Operations: Sjoerd Hendriks, GustoMSC

In the deep water environment large and expensive to operate 5th generation drilling rigs are utilized to drill exploration wells, drill development wells, perform completion activities and intervene/workover development wells. In the current market with spiraling day rates new drilling systems and improved functional specifications have been incorporated into a new build vessel of a reduced size, with improved capabilities and with functional specifications that will make drilling and workover/intervention of subsea wells more efficient and cost effective against the traditional MODU. 

9:30 am
Coffee Service and Exhibit Viewing

9:45 am
Rig Design II
Moderator: Jim Schroeder, Transocean

• Megathist Units – Operational Optimization with Four Identical Drilling Rigs after 5 Years of Operation: Joao Araujo, Gilles Bocabarteille, Gert Aigstorfer, Pride International Inc.

The Megathyst class rig design is an evolution of the Amethyst class rig targeted for mid range deepwater applications in a benign environment. The benefits of a rig design that was very much influenced by the client and tailored to the clients operational needs will be presented. An overview of the unique rig design, specifications and characteristics that favor and are tailored to the client's long range development programs in the mid range deepwater areas will be given, covering a total of 15 rig years of operational experience and optimization towards operational excellence.

• Well-Testing Planning in Deep Water Wells in an HP/HT Environment - The Brazil Experience: Edgar Almanza, Alejandro Salguero, Harold Nivens, Halliburton

Discussion of all phases of proper planning and the well parameters that must be determined to enable more accurate, more representative, and more successful well testing evaluations in all deepwater environments. The information provided will remove much of the guesswork previously involved in selecting testing methods.

10:45 am
Coffee Service and Exhibit Viewing

11:00 am
Risk Management & Well Control
Moderator: Ron Bland, Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids

• Sharing Experience Drives Successful Drilling and Completions in Deepwater: Alan Hippman, BP

How BP uses its global experience and knowledge management (KM) tools and processes to optimize drilling and completion of deepwater wells will be discussed. Deepwater examples will be drawn from experience in high pressures, high temperatures, and sub-salt environments. The KM tools and processes are described, as well as specific examples of sharing from region to region.

• Mathematical Modeling of Gas Kicks - A Finite-Difference Approach: Carolina Silva Avelar, Otto Luiz Alcantara Santos, Petrobras, Paulo Roberto Ribeiro, Luiz Felipe Mendes de Moura, Unicamp

A mathematical model for predicting the pressure behavior in a well during gas-kick removal will be presented. This model is based on the numerical solution of a set of three conservation equations, one for the mass of each phase and the mixture momentum.

• Drilling Process Duration Performance - Comparative Assessment Issues and Alternatives: Viviane Carvalho da Costa Barros, Durval Barbosa da Cunha Júnior, Accenture, Bráulio Bastos, Felipe Rego, Petrobras

Comparative performance evaluation of the well drilling process, in terms of time spent to reach the last drilled inch, is made difficult by the great variability of this indicator due to specific characteristics of the different wells, such as TVD, WD, rock characteristics, pore pressure, trajectory etc. This paper presents alternatives considered in the development of a normalization model for the drilling process duration indicators, created to comparatively evaluate performance in different areas of Petrobras.

12:30 pm
Luncheon & Exhibit Viewing   Copacabana & Flamengo Rooms

1:45 pm
Panel Discussion – Human Resources Challenges
Moderator: Marty Rolleg, International Drilling Manager, Devon Energy Corporation
A panel of industry experts will discuss current and future trends facing the deepwater drilling industry, including the long-term outlook for skilled labor, training requirements, competency levels, and labor administration.

• Bill McPherson, Director of Organizational Development, Noble Corporation
• Oscar German, Director Human Resources Western Hemisphere, Pride International Inc.
• Simone Martins, Regional Human Resources Manager, Latin America, Halliburton
• Otto Santos, Senior Technical Advisor-Coordinator of Well Construction, Petrobras
• Carlos Calad, Vice President-Marketing, Schlumberger Oilfield Services Latin America

3:15 pm
Coffee Service and Exhibit Viewing

3:30 pm
Case Histories
Moderator: Steve Kropla, IADC

• A Geomechanical Study in Real Time Using a Methodology Called Sonic and Density Synthetic Logs can Help Drillers-Walking on the Line: Irineu Virgilio Tomasi, Picasso F. Vasconcelos Nabuco, Otto Luiz Alcantara Santos, Petrobras

When designing a well, it is necessary to analyze sonic and density logs of offset wells. In many cases these data are not available for the entire well depth, but only for a portion of the well. During drilling, operators don't want to use these logs, because of the cost and poor quality depending on the well diameter or the kind of fluid they are using to drill. In these cases, it is necessary to build the logs called in this paper sonic and density synthetic logs. They are generated indirectly and permit drillers to "walk on the line".This new methodology has been applied in complex wells of Brazilian offshore basins, North of Africa, Middle East and Gulf of Mexico. It was able to explain narrow operational windows and to analyze formation stability problems. Another application of this tool is to determine the mud weight needed inside the well to assure its stability before and during the surface casing installation.

• Identifying the Far-Reaching Advantages of Single-Diameter Solid Expandable Systems: Eduardo Perez-Roca, Jerry Fritsch, Rob McKee, Enventure Global Technology

Maintaining a consistent ID through multiple casing strings is a revolutionary concept that significantly impacts drilling and production operations, especially in deepwater projects. To illustrate the potential benefits and far-reaching implications of single-diameter systems, this paper will discuss design modularity, component adaptability and operating latitude. Installation specifics will be presented to demonstrate the systems’ functionality in wellbore design and drilling operations. Common drilling scenarios and how the probable application of single-diameter systems would give operators the technical advantage needed to successfully reach deepwater objectives will also be discussed.

4:30 pm
Poster Session   Exhibition Area

• Effects of PDC Bit Characteristics on the Drilling Performance of Rotary Steerable System in the Deep Water Gulf of Mexico: Christine Guerrero, Chevron, Edward E. Moore, Jr., Schlumberger
• Expandable and Contractable Drill Bit-A Novel Technology for Hole Enlargement: Sharad Ashok Agarwal, Transocean, Navin Ashok Agarwal, Bombay University
• The Value of Solid Expandable Tubulars in Openhole Environments: Eduardo Perez-Roca, Enventure Global Technology

5:30 pm
Welcoming Reception and Exhibit Viewing

Wednesday 12, March 

7:00 am
Registration & Exhibit Viewing   Ballroom Foyer

8:00 am
Welcoming Remarks   Rio de Janeiro Ballrooms II & III

• Steve Kropla, Group Vice President Operations & Accreditation, IADC
• Brian Truelove, Vice President, Deepwater EP Wells, Shell

8:30 am
Downhole Tools & Well Construction I
Moderator: Brian Truelove, Shell

• Design Considerations & Operational Challenges of Directional Drilling Through Salt in Deepwater, GOM: Riaz Israel, Piero D’Ambrosio, Schlumberger

Challenges faced and the lessons learned by two major deepwater GOM operators along with the directional service company in drilling directionally through salt will be presented. Together, these companies have drilled over 150,000 ft. of salt in the GOM and are considered pioneers in deepwater salt drilling.

• First Use of Swell Technology in Campos Basin Proves Water Conformance Solution - Case History in Campos Basin-Brazil: Andre Tocchetto, Edison Barretto, Oscar Barrios, Halliburton, Jose Neto, Eduardo Ueta, Petrobras

Learn about a new technology for the Pampo Field in the southern Campos Basin area that was capable of resolving the water production problem. Swellable packer technology was successful in providing the required results.

9:30 am
Coffee Service and Exhibit Viewing

9:45 am
Downhole Tools & Well Construction II
Moderator: Paulo Ribeiro, UNICAMP

• Rotary Steerable Practices: Drilling Longer and Faster Salt Sections in the Gulf of Mexico: Marco Aburto-Perez, Robert Clyde, Schlumberger

A summary of the analysis will be presented of the push the bit rotary steerable runs in the North American Gulf of Mexico concluding the successful drilling assembly design and drilling techniques to yield optimum salt drilling performance and establish the evolution of salt drilling performance towards a benchmark for today’s salt drilling environment.

• Field Knowledge Management: Kazuo Miura, Joao Nuno V. C. Moreira, Petrobras, Anna P. L. Duarte, Jorge H.B. Sampaio Jr., Genesis do Brasil

In a field offshore Brazil, a Field Knowledge Management model is being built with the aim of developing a methodology to guarantee the well engineering experts know and systematically apply the relevant information collected from past drilled wells in the design of future wells, above the use of offset wells data..

10:45 am
Coffee Service and Exhibit Viewing

11:00 am
Fluids/Hydraulics
Moderator: Earl Shanks, The Deepwater Drilling Company

• Trapped Annular Pressure - A Spacer Fluid that Shrinks (Update): Ron Bland, Ron Foley, Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids, Ben Bloys, Many Gonzales, Chevron, Robert Hermes, Los Alamos National Laboratory, John M. Daniel, Floyd Billings, Ian Robinson, Lucite International, John Davis, Terry Cassel, Baker Oil Tools

Progress to date on a "shrinking spacer" solutions to Trapped Annular Pressure/Annular Pressure Buildup. Earlier publications and presentations documented early laboratory and yard testing validating the concept while this presentation will summarize the previous work but concentrate on recently developed commercial scale mixing and pumping equipment as well as results from a land field test of the technology.

• The Importance of Advanced Dynamic ECD and Well Control Models in Deepwater Drilling: Bjorn-Tore Anfinsen, Inge Mosti, Anne Sofie Flatebx, SPT Group

Accurate dynamic software models are required in all deep water drilling projects. The ability to understand the wellbore flow process is important and only dynamic models can give a realistic representation of impact of an operational sequence. A software model that has been successfully applied in several deep water applications will be presented. A specific focus will be given to the benefits of dynamic modeling. This will be illustrated with example cases from real operations.

• Study of the PVT Behavior of Methane and N-Paraffin Based Drilling Fluids Mixtures: Eduardo Nascimento Monteiro, Antonio Carlos Vieira Martins Lage, Rosana Fatima Teixeira Lomba, Petrobras, Paulo Roberto Ribeiro, UNICAMP

The focus of this presentation is the experimental data obtained for the methane and n-paraffin based drilling fluid mixtures and the modeling of the data. The results of the models are then used to compare and discuss pit gain detection of kicks in synthetic based muds and water based muds.

12:30 pm
Luncheon & Exhibit Viewing   Copacabana & Flamengo Rooms

1:45 pm
Emerging Technologies
Moderator: Otto Santos, Petrobras

• Industry Lessons in Developing a 20 KSI Well Control System for Ultra-Deepwater: Earl Shanks, The Deepwater Technology Company

The new offshore deepwater and shelf discoveries in the HPHT GOM operating arena has prompted the industry to work together through the API process to develop practices for equipment rated for working pressures greater than 15,000 psi. This effort has been active for over two years and has brought together many industry experts from operators, manufacturers, service companies, and other industry experts to establish the way forward in the designing, verification, and validation of the pressure containment components of this equipment. This methodology has been applied in the design of an 18 >20 ksi BOP and will be presented.

• Advancements in On-Board Software for Planning Drilling Riser Operations in High Current Environments: Donogh Lang, Kieran Murphy, Michael Lane, MCS

Some background to the issues associated with deploying and retrieving drilling risers in deep water, high current, environments will be presented. Existing mitigation strategies, such as drift-running, are briefly described. An overview of the software tool used to plan deployment/retrieval and drift-running operations on-board, with a particular focus on the riser finite element model and the procedures used to establish the feasibility of carrying out deployment/retrieval operations or plan drift-running operations. Finally, a number of examples are presented to illustrate both the deployment/retrieval and drift-running simulation capabilities of the tool.

2:45 pm
Coffee Service and Exhibit Viewing

3:00 pm
Managed Pressure Drilling & Underbalanced Operations
Moderator: Steve Kropla, IADC

• MPD in Deepwater Using a Floater Vessel: Application, Planning, Equipment Limitations, Implementation and Future Plans: Helio Santos, Erdem Catak, Joe Kinder, Secure Drilling, Emmanuel Franco, Petrobras

Learn about steps taken to drill the first well in deepwater from a floater vessel. Even though the ideal solution is not available yet, a decision was made to use the Micro-Flux method to identify and distinguish ballooning from kicks during connections, as well as to guarantee a minimum volume of kick in the well if an influx is taken. Main goals of the application and the main problems to be addressed include available solutions in terms of rotating control devices, advantages and limitations for use on a floater vessel, and what is being planned for the future to tackle the current limitations.  Processes used to implement the solution thought to be the most suitable based on the current limitations identified with the selected vessel will also be presented.

• Staged Implementation of Automated Managed Pressure Drilling in Redevelopment Program for Depleted Deepwater Gulf of Mexico Fields - Applications and Results: Paul Fredericks, Don Reitsma, At Balance

In their search for a drilling solution to redevelop technically unfeasible deepwater depleted fields in the Gulf of Mexico, Shell chose to implement in stages automated dynamic annular pressure control to manage ECD within narrow pressure windows with statically underbalanced mud. Shell proved that they could redefine drilling feasibility and in the process improve drilling efficiency, safety, and reliability through reduced ECD, increased borehole stability, and the elimination of lost circulation.

4:00 pm
Closing Remarks & Adjournment