Development and Application of Pressure Control Drilling System (PCDS) for Drilling Complex Problem

ose fracturing pressure and formation pressure is very near. It is easy to cause drilling complex problems such as well kick and well loss. In order to solve the problems, a pressure control drilling system (PCDS) was developed, including automatic manifold system, back-pump system and auto-control system, which can control the pressure distribution in the entire borehole annular precisely through closedloop automatic control system. The kernel of PCDS is auto-control system which has three significant characteristic, including an advanced real-time hydraulic method, simple and effective control system, self-adaptive control strategies. The auto-control system configuration composes of field-bus device, controller and workstation which form three levels. LevelⅠis measure and on-site diagnosis level. LevelⅡ is monitor and control level. Level Ⅲ is optimized control level. From 2011 to now, the PCDS has successfully finished six field services in China which can provides additional flow-rate and back pressure to compensate for the reduction or increment of bottom hole pressure while making a connection, reduction in rig pump rate, change in mud weight or drill pipe movement and so on. The underbalanced-pressure control technology is also developed which is different from the conventional PCDS technology because the controlled bottom-hole pressure is lower than pore pressure of formation and the gas or fluid can be allowed to come out from formation at a controlled rate which is benefit to protect reservoir and improve ROP. The applications prove that the PCDS equipment can control the bottom-hole pressure in an exact range and the precise pressure control technology of underbalanced drilling is feasible. So the PCDS equipment can easily adapt to do overbalanced, near-balanced and under-balanced drilling operation and will be more successful in the oil or gas well with safety and fast drilling in the future.