Application of managed pressure drilling to enhance control pressure over wellbore

Abstract

Drilling automation has gained traction in the oil and gas industry as a means to enhance rig site safety. While safety-focused automation has already been implemented, many companies are now recognizing its potential for improving overall drilling performance. The demand for drilling has surged, particularly in unconventional reservoirs, as easily accessible oil reserves decline. In these plays, Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) has become increasingly important due to its numerous advantages. MPD relies on maintaining pressure balance through a choke manifold, where automatic choke control rather than manual field operation enables more precise control over drilling processes. Various control strategies, such as PID and MPC, can be employed to develop effective control systems. Before field implementation, it is crucial to test these designs using simulations to identify the optimal approach. This thesis focuses on developing a drilling simulation with robust modeling and built-in optimal control design.