ConocoPhillips and Hydril led a joint industry research project to develop an ultra-deepwater drilling technology that, when commercially available, will enhance production rates in active offshore areas and enable economical field developments in oceans that are too deep for conventional drilling methods.
This new technology supports the triple bottom line by reducing costs and time, discharges to the environment and the risk and magnitude of well-control incidents, which greatly improves safety.
The $50 million U.S. project is the largest single joint industry research project since the first drillship was tested almost 50 years ago. By eliminating pressure caused by the weight of the heavy mud within the drilling riser – the conductor pipe between the drilling rig and the ocean floor that surrounds and protects the drill pipe assembly – extreme water depth is no longer a limitation to offshore exploration. Ultimately, this may prove to be the most significant benefit of the SubSea MudLift Drilling (SMD) system to the industry.
A test well using the SMD system was successfully drilled in the Gulf of Mexico in water depths of 900 feet. In ultra-deep waters up to 10,000 feet, the cost saving using the SMD system could range from $5 million U.S. to $12 million U.S. per well.
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