CONTINUOUS CIRCULATION SYSTEM, CCS

Industrial obstacles and challenges are demeaned everyday by the virtue of new technological advances and engineering breakthroughs. The role of those wonder soluti ons is increasing with a head spinning speed. The mark of a true successful engineer is to always be up to date, ti relessly catching up with a fi rm steady grip to every work-related cutti ng edge inventi on and ti me saving outbreak.

24 January 2010 ECHO Ahmed H. Abdul’aal Faculty of Petroleum Engineering Suez Canal University

On connecti ng and disconnecti ng drill pipes, various problems may arise. For example: Disturbing the stability of the pressure downhole and thus taking a possible kick.

The scienti fi c principle of conti nuous circulati on is maintaining a constant ECD (Equivalent Circulati ng Density) at a level not exceeding the pore fracture gradient. It refers to the concept of allowing mud to conti nuously fl ow and circulate downhole while simultaneously connecti ng drill pipe. Previously, the conventi onal method required the mud fl ow to be paused as the new drill pipes were added, which disrupts the stability of the downhole pressure.

CCS is a self-contained rig fl oor device which allows drill pipe connecti ons to be assembled, while drilling or tripping, without stopping circulati on to the wellbore. It also provides a safe, reliable means of maintaining a constant steadily circulati ng downhole pressure environment.

Most importantly, drilling with CCS enables wells to be drilled to the targeted depth in additi on to allowing previously unatt ainable reservoirs to be accessed.

Using the CCS requires no changes or additi ons to the drill string and all tool joint connect/disconnect operati ons at circulati ng pressure take place inside a pressure vessel constructed from proven BOP components. It can be used with open annulus mud returns or with rotating BOP equipment as part of a Managed Pressure Drilling package.

The CSS being a successful technology reduces the total connecti on ti me by 75%, enables conti nuous cutti ngs transport and opti mizes the solids control processes. Moreover, it enables other technologies to be used, such as True Underbalanced Drilling (UBD), Liner Drilling and narrow pore pressure/frac-gradient drilling.

Other features provided by CSS include reduced shallow water fl ows problems, eliminati on of ballooning eff ects, drilling diffi cult formati ons and fi nally reducti on of kicks and stuck pipe incidents.