Feasibility of Using Pressurized Mud Cap Drilling for Geothermal Wells

Summary Most expensive and cost effective part of geothermal reservoirs is their drilling operations. The use of Pressurized Mud Cap Drilling (PMCD) mode of MPD together with a Rotary Control device (RCD) and associated choke manifold, Annular Pressure While Drilling (AWPD) tool and possible surface mud/gas separation equipment provides annular pressure control of the well using a combination of surface backpressure and a typically lighter hydrostatic column provided by the drilling fluid for a combined bottom hole pressure in excess of pore pressure. the combination of this method with other advanced technologies in increase the safety of this operation. Managed pressure drilling (MPD), in the foundation concept of view is a magic package of drilling optimization methods That if correctly gathered and planned will improve the overall drilling performance, Moreover, MPD will eliminate the risks as well as break the operation costs via proactively managing the hydraulic pressure profile and removing the problems related to a high Non Productive Time (NPT) commonly encountered in drilling operations. This simple core concept could help in growing the technology in order to generate a new source of modification in conventional drilling shape in the near future.