Preface<br>A Note on Notation<br><br>Chapter 1 – Introduction<br>1.1. What is MPD?<br>1.2. MPD Variants, Terminology & Classification<br>1.3. Brief History and Overview of MPD Variants<br>1.3.1. General Introduction<br>1.3.2. Continuous Circulation<br>1.3.3. Surface Back Pressure MPD<br>1.3.4. Riserless and Dual-Gradient Drilling<br>1.3.5. Mud Cap Drilling<br>1.3.6. Managed Pressure Cementing and Completions<br>1.4. Main Benefits & Advantages of MPD<br>1.5. The Stakeholder Case for Action – Why Adopt MPD?<br>2. Fundamentals & Essential Background<br>2.1. Introduction<br>2.2. Hydraulics<br>2.2.1. Hydraulics Introduction<br>2.2.2. Hydrostatics<br>2.2.2.1. Definitions<br>2.2.2.2. Density – Ideal and Non-Ideal Mixing<br>2.2.2.3. Incompressible Fluids<br>2.2.2.4. Compressible Fluids<br>2.2.2.5. Effect of Hole Cleaning and Barite Sag on Density<br>2.2.2.6. Multiple Fluid Gradients & Unbalanced U-Tube Effects<br>2.2.3. Hydrodynamics<br>2.2.3.1. Pump Pressure, Frictional Pressure Loss & ECD<br>2.2.3.2. Hydraulics Models<br>2.2.3.3. Hydraulic Modeling: Calculating Frictional Pressure Losses during Circulation<br>2.2.3.4. Transient Effects: Surge & Swab<br>2.2.3.5. Transient Effects: Mud Gelation and Pump Startups<br>2.2.3.6. Hole Cleaning<br>2.2.3.7. Bit Pressure Drop<br>2.2.3.8. Other Hydraulic Pressure Losses<br>2.2.3.9. Uncertainty in Hydraulic Modeling<br>2.3. Rock Mechanics and the Drilling Margin<br>2.3.1. Drilling Margin Introduction<br>2.3.2. Pore Pressure<br>2.3.2.1. Pore Pressure Introduction<br>2.3.2.2. Pore Pressure Regimes<br>2.3.2.3. Deepwater Pore Pressure – Effect of Water Depth<br>2.3.2.4. Pore Pressure Indicators<br>2.3.2.5. Pore Pressure Evaluation and Prediction<br>2.3.3. Fracture Gradient<br>2.3.3.1 Fracture Gradient Introduction<br>2.3.3.2. Formation Integrity & Leak-Off Testing, Dynamic MPD Testing<br>2.3.3.3. Fracture Gradient Considerations<br>2.3.3.4. Ballooning / Losses & Gains / Wellbore Breathing<br>2.3.3.5. Fracture Gradient Evaluation and Prediction<br>2.3.4. Effect of Depletion on Pore Pressure and Fracture Gradient<br>2.3.5. Borehole Stability<br>2.3.5.1. Borehole Stability Introduction<br>2.3.5.2. Stress Tensor & Subsurface Stress Regimes<br>2.3.5.3. Subsurface Stress and Rock Failure<br>2.3.5.4. Near-Wellbore Stresses & Failure Orientation<br>2.3.5.5. Mud Weight for Borehole Stability – Avoiding Shear Failure<br>2.3.5.6. Mud Weight to Prevent Tensile Failure & Induced Fracturing<br>2.3.5.7. Wellbore Trajectory and the Drilling Margin<br>2.3.5.8. Obtaining Borehole Stability Modeling Input Variables<br>2.3.5.9. Borehole Stability Modeling Recommendations<br>2.3.6. Extending the Drilling Margin: Artificial Wellbore Strengthening<br>2.4. Well Control<br>2.4.1. Well Control Introduction<br>2.4.2. Definitions<br>2.4.3. Conventional Kick Detection<br>2.4.4. Wellbore Breathing Detection & Flowback Fingerprinting<br>2.4.5. Conventional Well Shut-In, SIDPP & SICP<br>2.4.6. MAASP/MASP & MAWP<br>2.4.7. Kick Intensity (KI) & Kick Tolerance (KT)<br>2.4.8. Casing Point Selection<br>2.4.9. Phase-Behavior of Gases<br>2.4.10. Gas Solubility<br>2.4.11. Conventional Well Control Methods<br>2.4.11.1. Driller’s Method<br>2.4.11.2. Wait & Weight Method<br>2.4.11.3. Bullheading / Annular Injection<br>2.4.11.4. Subsea Well Control<br>2.4.11.5. Riser Margin and Emergency Riser Disconnects<br>2.4.12. Mud Gas Separator (MGS) Sizing<br>2.4.12.1. Gas Separation Capacity<br>2.4.12.2. Maximum Allowable Internal Pressure and Gas Flow Rate<br>2.5. Speed of Sound<br>2.6. Temperature Effects<br>2.6.1. Introduction<br>2.6.2. Temperature Regimes, HPHT Classification<br>2.6.3. Temperature Modeling<br>2.6.4. Effect of Temperature on Fluid Properties<br>2.6.5. Effect of Temperature on Wellbore Stability and Lost Circulation<br>2.6.6. Effect of Temperature on MAASP and Kick Tolerance<br>2.6.7. Effect of Temperature during Non-Circulatory Periods / Connections<br>2.7. Pipe Light Conditions<br>2.8. Recommended Reading<br>3. MPD Benefits and Risks<br>3.1. Introduction – How MPD Changes the Game and Adds Value<br>3.2. Improved Safety<br>3.2.1. Early Kick Detection (EKD), Early Kick & Loss Detection (EKLD)<br>3.2.2. Improved Pressure Control and Influx Management<br>3.2.3. Dynamic Pore Pressure, Formation Integrity and Leak Off Testing (DPPT, DFIT, DLOT)<br>3.3. Well Design Optimization<br>3.4. NPT Avoidance<br>3.4.1. Lost Circulation and Wellbore Breathing Prevention and Mitigation<br>3.4.2. Wellbore Instability and Stuck Pipe Prevention<br>3.4.3. Differential Sticking and Stuck Pipe Prevention<br>3.4.4. Remedial Cementing Avoidance through Managed Pressure Cementing<br>3.4.5. Optimized Completions<br>3.5. Invisible Lost Time (ILT) Avoidance & ROP Enhancement<br>3.6. Reduced Reservoir Damage and Production Optimization<br>3.7. Reduced Carbon Footprint of Well Construction Operations<br>3.9. Risks and Drawbacks of MPD<br>3.10. Techno-Economical Justification of MPD<br>4. MPD Equipment, Software and Operational Implementation<br>4.1. Introduction<br>4.2. MPD Equipment<br>4.2.1. Rotating / Non-Rotating Control Devices (RCD/ACD)<br>4.2.1.1. Passive RCD Systems<br>4.2.1.2. Active RCD Systems<br>4.2.1.3. Active Closing Device (ACD) Systems<br>4.2.1.4. Hybrid RCD Systems<br>4.2.1.5. Integrated Pressure Management Device (PMD)<br>4.2.1.6. RCD Sealing Element Life<br>4.2.2. Chokes & Choke Manifolds<br>4.2.3. Flow Metering<br>4.2.4. Non-Return Valves (NRV)<br>4.2.5. Pressure Relief Valves (PRV), Pressure Relief Chokes (PRC), Pressure Control Valves (PCV)<br>4.2.6. Junk / Debris Catchers<br>4.2.7. Distribution / Buffer Manifolds<br>4.2.8. Piping, Hoses and Flowlines<br>4.2.9. Special Downhole Valves<br>4.2.9.1. Casing Isolation Valve (CIV) / Downhole Isolation Valve (DIV)<br>4.2.9.2. Drill String Valve (DSV) / Hydrostatic Control Valve (HCV)<br>4.2.10. Back-Pressure Pumps<br>4.2.11. Mud Gas Separator (MGS)<br>4.2.12. Riser Equipment & Configurations, Integrated Riser Joint (IRJ)<br>4.2.13. Downhole Measurements & Telemetry<br>4.2.14. Programmable Logic Controllers<br>4.3. MPD Operational Implementation<br>4.3.1. Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&ID), Process Flow Diagrams (PFD)<br>4.3.2. MPD Certification, Commissioning and Classification<br>4.3.3. MPD Fingerprinting<br>4.3.4. MPD Rig Integration<br>4.3.4.1. General Considerations<br>4.3.4.2. Land Rigs<br>4.3.4.2. Offshore Rigs – Jack-Ups & Platform Rigs<br>4.3.4.3. Offshore Rigs – Deepwater MODUs<br>4.3.5. Pressure Operations Directive<br>4.4. MPD Software and Data-Acquisition<br>4.5. Recommended Reading<br>5. Continuous Circulation (CC)<br>5.1. Introduction<br>5.2. Unique Systems, Equipment and Methods<br>5.2.1. Continuous Circulation System (CCS)<br>5.2.2. Continuous Circulation Valves (CCV)<br>5.2.2.1. Eni Circulation Device (e-cd<sup>TM</sup>)<br>5.2.2.2. Non-Stop Driller (NSD<sup>TM</sup>)<br>5.2.2.3. Continuous Flow System (CFS<sup>TM</sup>)<br>5.2.2.4. Rotating Continuous Circulation Tool (RCCT)<br>5.3. Kick Detection and Well Control<br>5.4. Tripping<br>5.5. Case Histories<br>5.5.1. CCS<br>5.5.2. CCV<br>5.6. Recommended Reading<br>6. Surface Back Pressure (SBP)<br>6.1. Introduction<br>6.2. Drilling Margin Management<br>6.2.1. Adding Back-Pressure to Control Annulus / Bottom-Hole Pressures<br>6.2.2. Anchor Point Selection & Management<br>6.2.3. Basis of Design (BOD)<br>6.2.4. Dynamic Pore Pressure, Formation Integrity and Leak Off Testing (DPPT, DFIT, DLOT) 404<br>6.2.5. Tripping, Compensating for Swab & Surge Pressures<br>6.2.6. Heave Compensation<br>6.3. Pressure Control & Influx Management<br>6.3.1. Introduction<br>6.3.2. Early Kick & Loss Detection (EKLD)<br>6.3.3. Influx Management<br>6.3.3.1. Primary & Secondary Barrier Operations<br>6.3.3.2. MPD Operations Matrix<br>6.3.3.3. MPD Influx Management Envelope (IME)<br>6.3.3.4. MPD Influx Management Decision Tree (IMDT)<br>6.3.4. SMAASP & DMAASP<br>6.3.5. Mud Weight and SBP Selection using SMAASP & DMAASP<br>6.3.6. Kick Tolerance and Well Design / Casing Point Optimization<br>6.3.7. Riser Gas Handling (RGH) to Prevent Riser Gas Unloading (RGU) Events<br>6.3.7.1. Introduction<br>6.3.7.2. RGH / RGU Experimentation, Riser Gas Migration Monitoring<br>6.3.7.3. RGH / RGU Modeling<br>6.3.7.4. Gas Hydrates<br>6.3.7.5. IADC Riser Gas Handling Guidelines<br>6.3.7.6. Riser Gas Handling Equipment<br>6.3.7.7. Influx Management Envelope (IME) for Riser Gas Handling Events<br>6.3.7.8. Handling Gas-in-Riser with Back-Pressure and Dilution Control<br>6.4. SBP Methods and Systems<br>6.4.1. Manual Approach with Trapped Back-Pressure<br>6.4.2. Automated Approach with Trapped Back-Pressure<br>6.4.3. Automated Approach with Added Back-Pressure<br>6.5. SBP-MPD for Challenging Wells<br>6.5.1. (Ultra-)Deepwater Wells<br>6.5.2. High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) Wells<br>6.5.3. Extended Reach Drilling (ERD) Wells<br>6.6. SBP Case Histories<br>6.7. Recommended Reading<br>7. Dual Gradient Drilling (DGD)<br>7.1. General Introduction<br>7.2. Riserless Drilling (RD) – Weighted Mud Discharge at the Seafloor<br>7.2.1. RD Introduction<br>7.2.2. RD Systems, Equipment and Operation<br>7.2.3. RD Case Histories<br>Intermezzo – Road to RMR: Cuttings Transport System (CTS)<br>7.3. Riserless Mud Recovery (RMR)<br>7.3.1. RMR Introduction<br>7.3.2. RMR Systems and Equipment<br>7.3.3. RMR Operation<br>7.3.3. RMR Case Histories<br>Intermezzo – Road to CML<br>7.4. Controlled (Annular) Mud Level (CML / CAML)<br>7.4.1. CML Introduction<br>Intermezzo – ECD Management Toolbox<br>7.4.2. CML Systems, Equipment and Operation<br>7.4.3. CML Operation<br>7.4.4. CML Kick Detection & Well Control<br>7.4.4.1. CML Kick Detection<br>Intermezzo – CMP Well Control Trials Using the CML System<br>7.4.4.2. CML Well Control<br>7.4.5. CML+SBP<br>7.4.6. CML Case Histories<br>7.5. Inactive Systems<br>7.5.1. Seabed Pumping<br>7.5.1.1. Subsea Mudlift Drilling (SMD)<br>7.5.1.2. DeepVision<br>7.5.1.3. Shell Subsea Pumping System (SSPS)<br>7.5.2. Riser Dilution<br>7.5.2.1. Dilution with Gas<br>7.5.2.2. Dilution with Hollow Spheres – Maurer JIP<br>7.5.2.3. Dilution with Light Fluid - Continuous Annular Pressure Management (CAPM)<br>7.5.3. Mid-Level Riser Pumping<br>7.5.3.1. Low Riser Return System (LRRS)<br>7.5.3.2. DeltaVision / Pumped Riser System (PRS)<br>7.5.4. Miscellaneous DGD Methods<br>7.5.4.1. Dual Drillstring - Reelwell<br>7.5.4.2. E-duct Return (EdR)<br>7.6. Recommended Reading<br>8. Mud Cap Drilling (MCD)<br>8.1. Introduction<br>8.2. MCD Subvariants<br>8.2.1. Floating Mud Cap Drilling (FMCD)<br>8.2.2. Pressurized Mud Cap Drilling (PMCD)<br>8.2.3. Dynamic Mud Cap Drilling (DMCD)<br>8.2.4. Controlled Mud Cap Drilling (CMCD)<br>8.2.5. Variant Selection and Comparison: FMCD vs. PMCD<br>8.3. Gas Migration in MCD Operations<br>8.4. Planning and Executing PMCD Operations<br>8.4.1. Planning and Preparation<br>8.4.2. Equipment<br>8.4.3. Pit layout & fluid management<br>8.4.4. Transitioning between MCD and Conventional or SBP-MPD Operations<br>8.4.5. Well control<br>8.4.6. Drilling<br>8.4.7. Tripping<br>8.5. PMCD Wireline and Coring Operations<br>8.6. Case Histories<br>8.6.1. FMCD Field Cases<br>8.6.2. PMCD & DMCD Field Cases<br>8.7. Recommended Reading<br>9. Managed Pressure Cementing (MPC), Managed Pressure Completions (MPComp), Managed Pressure Casing/Liner/Completion Running<br>9.1. General Introduction<br>9.2. Managed Pressure Cementing (MPC)<br>9.2.1. MPC Introduction<br>9.2.2. MPC with SBP<br>9.2.2.1. Equipment<br>9.2.2.2. Workflow – Planning & Execution<br>9.2.2.3. Casing vs. Liner MPC Considerations<br>9.2.2.4. Risks<br>9.2.3. MPC with RMR & CML<br>9.2.4. MPC Modeling & Control<br>9.2.5. MPC Case Histories<br>9.3. Managed Pressure Completions (MPComp)<br>9.4. Downhole Measurements during MPC & MP Completions<br>9.5. Recommended Reading<br>10. Miscellaneous Methods: RMD, Multi-Phase MPD, Reelwell<br>10.1. Introduction<br>10.2. RMD / RCD-Only / HSE Method<br>10.3. Multi-Phase MPD<br>10.3.1. Equipment & Preparation<br>10.3.2. Modeling & Simulation<br>10.3.3. Direct Injection vs. Concentric Injection<br>10.3.4. Well Control, Connections and Tripping<br>10.3.5. Case Histories<br>10.4. Reelwell Pipe-in-Pipe Technology<br>10.5. Recommended Reading<br>11. MPD Event Detection, Automation and Control<br>11.1. General Introduction<br>11.2. Introduction to Drilling and MPD Automation<br>11.2.1. Drivers for Automation<br>11.2.2. Levels of Automation (LOA)<br>11.2.3. Current State of Drilling Automation & MPD Automation<br>11.2.3.1. Drilling Automation<br>11.2.3.2. MPD Automation<br>11.2.4. Human Factors (HF) & Situational Awareness (SA)<br>11.3. Event Detection<br>11.3.1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Introduction<br>11.3.2. AI & ML Methods Overview<br>11.3.3. Simple Rule-Based Event Detection<br>11.3.4. AI & ML-Based Event Detection<br>11.3.5. AI & ML-Based MPD Risk and Reliability Assessment<br>11.3.6. AI & ML-Based Advisory at the Rigsite<br>11.4. Automated MPD Control<br>11.4.1. Closed-Loop vs. Open-Loop Control<br>11.4.2. Process and Control Variables, Disturbances<br>11.4.3. Manual and Automated Control<br>11.4.3.1. Manual Control<br>11.4.3.2. Two-Position On/Off Control<br>11.4.3.3. Proportional (P), Integral (I) and Derivative (D) Control<br>11.4.3.4. Model-Predictive Control (MPC)<br>11.4.3.5. Other Control Approaches<br>11.4.4. Models for Estimation and Control<br>11.4.4.1. Introduction<br>11.4.4.2. Simple ODE Control Approach<br>11.4.4.3. RDFM Control Approach<br>11.4.4.4. Control Switching: Pressure, Flow and Solubility Control<br>11.4.5. Automated Tripping Advisory and Control<br>11.4.6. Automated Heave Control<br>11.4.7. Automated Fluid Monitoring<br>11.4.8. Automated Well Control<br>11.5. Digital Twinning & Hybrid Modeling<br>11.5.1. Digital Twinning<br>11.5.2. Hybrid Modeling: Combining Physics-Based and Data-Driven Modeling<br>11.6. Recommended Reading<br>12. MPD Planning, Implementation and Risk Management<br>12.1. Well Construction Process (WCP)<br>12.1.1. WCP Phases and Structure<br>12.1.2. WCP Risk Register<br>12.1.3. WCP Roles and Responsibilities<br>12.1.4. WCP Value Creation, Erosion or Missed Opportunity<br>12.1.5. WCP Cost Estimating<br>12.1.6. WCP Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) & Benchmarking<br>12.1.6.1. Safety<br>12.1.6.2. Drilling Time & Cost<br>12.1.6.3. Trouble and Inefficiency Time and Cost: NPT & ILT<br>12.1.6.4. Production Added<br>12.1.6.5. Sustainability Indicators<br>12.1.6.6. Staffing<br>12.1.6.7. Performance Benchmarking<br>12.2. MPD Project Management<br>12.2.1. Introduction.<br>12.2.2. Project Scoping<br>12.2.2.1. MPD Candidate Selection<br>12.2.2.2. Technical Feasibility<br>12.2.2.3. Economic Feasibility<br>12.2.3. Front End Engineering & Design (FEED)<br>12.2.4. Implementation<br>12.2.7.3. Knowledge Management: After Action Review (AAR)<br>12.2.7.4. Management of Change (MOC)<br>12.3. MPD Risk Assessment<br>12.3.1. Introduction<br>12.3.2. IADC Well Classification System<br>12.3.3. HAZID/HAZOP<br>12.3.4. FMEA/FMECA<br>12.3.5. LOPA/SIL<br>12.3.6. HSE Risk Matrix<br>12.3.7. HSE Risk Register<br>12.3.7. Cause and Effect Diagram and Table<br>12.3.8. Bow-Tie Analysis and Diagrams<br>12.3.9. Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) <br>12.3.10 Event Tree Analysis (ETA)<br>12.3.11 Linkage between Risk Assessment Approaches and HSE Management System<br>12.4. Training & Competency Assessment<br>12.5. Regulatory Approval<br>12.6. Summary: Key Documents, Events and Success Measures<br>12.7. Recommended Reading<br>13. Future Outlook<br>13.1. Introduction – MPD Projected Growth<br>13.2. Talent Attraction, Retention & Training<br>13.3. Technology Maturation & Continuous Improvement<br>13.4. Collaborative Regulatory Environment<br>13.5. Managed Pressure Engineering (MPE)<br>13.6. Rig Integration and Standardization<br>13.7. Riser Gas Handling & Riser Well Control<br>13.8. Automation, Data-Analysis, ML & AI, Digital Twinning, Hybrid Models, Remote Operations<br>13.9. Data Sharing and Collaboration<br>13.10. Environmental Benefits<br>13.11. Future Applications<br>13.12. Conclusion<br>Appendix A – Drift Flux Model (DFM) and Reduced Drift Flux Model (RDFM)<br>A.1. DFM Formulation<br>A.2. RDFM Formulation<br>A.3. Numerical Simulation<br>Appendix B – Hydraulics & Hole Cleaning Addendum<br>B.1 Estimation of Pressure Losses in Annuli using the Finite Difference Method<br>B.2. Modeling Thixotropic Fluid Behavior and Estimating Pressure Transients During Flow Initiation<br>B.3. Modeling Cuttings Transport using Local Fluid Velocities<br>B.3.1. Calculation of Velocity Profile in the Annulus using the Narrow Slot Approximation<br>B.3.2. Calculation of Local Critical Velocity<br>Appendix C – Rock Mechanics Addendum<br>C.1. Modified Lade, Modified Wiebols-Cook and Mogi-Coulomb Criteria<br>C.2. Physico-Chemical Effects on Wellbore Stability<br>C.3. Rock Strength Anisotropy Effects<br>Appendix D – Kick Tolerance Calculations<br>D.1. KT Formula Derivation – Conventional Drilling<br>D.2. KT Formula Derivation – SBP-MPD<br>Appendix E - Gas Solubility Example<br>List of Acronyms<br>Nomenclature<br>Variables<br>Greek letters<br>Subscripts & Superscripts<br>References