Baroid Drilling Fluids and Sperry-Sun Contribute to Setting Three Gulf of Mexico Records for EEXHOUSTON, Aug. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- In June 1998, Baroid Drilling Fluids and Sperry-Sun, both Divisions of Dresser Industries, Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : DI), participated in setting three Gulf of Mexico Noun 1. Gulf of Mexico - an arm of the Atlantic to the south of the United States and to the east of Mexico Golfo de Mexico Atlantic, Atlantic Ocean - the 2nd largest ocean; separates North and South America on the west from Europe and Africa on the east records for EEX EEX European Energy Exchange EEX Enter Exponent Corporation in the Llano Prospect at Garden Banks 386: deepest total vertical depth (TVD TVD Tuvalu Dollar (ISO currency code) TVD True Vertical Depth (oil drilling) TVD Total-Variation-Diminishing TVD Total Vertical Depth (oil and gas) ), deepest measured depth, and deepest production casing set. "The project was a team effort from start," states Terry Prater prate v. prat·ed, prat·ing, prates v.intr. To talk idly and at length; chatter. v.tr. To utter idly or to little purpose. n. , Senior Project Engineer with EEX. "We could not have overcome the obstacles we faced and pushed the previous limits without the expertise of the service companies involved." Baroid Drilling Fluids and Sperry-Sun both played pivotal roles in the success of the project. EEX selected Baroid's synthetic-based PETROFREE(R) LE drilling fluid at 18,171 ft. to decrease torque and drag and increase ROP (1) (Raster Operation) An instruction that manipulates the bits of a bitmapped image in some manner. (2) (RISC Operation) An instruction in a RISC processor. after an encounter with differential sticking. "PETROFREE LE is a unique blend of PETROFREE(R) ester and synthetic-based fluid which provides excellent lubricity, outstanding hole cleaning characteristics, and specific formulations for high temperature/high density applications," explains Dan Gleason, Technical Services Representative for Baroid. In addition, during the delay of replacing the rigs, PETROFREE LE sat static for approximately 90 days downhole at 25,342 feet at temperatures greater than 235 degrees F. The fluid remained in excellent condition with minimal rig time lost due to conditioning the fluid after this period. "We were extremely pleased with Baroid's fluid systems and the expertise shown during the project. You can have the best drilling fluids program, but it requires extensive knowledge and skill tailored to specific applications to be successful. We wouldn't be where we are today without the team effort of the mud engineers on location and the technical support staff of all the service companies involved," states Prater. At the same point when the decision was made to sidetrack and drill deeper -- and thus extreme well depths and therefore extreme downhole pressures would be encountered -- there was uncertainty regarding whether circulating densities would allow the operator to continue drilling; it was therefore essential that annular annular /an·nu·lar/ (an´u-ler) ring-shaped. an·nu·lar adj. Shaped like or forming a ring. annular ring-shaped. pressure could be pulsed to the surface in order that true densities could be known. Sperry-Sun's pressure-while-drilling (PWD PWD Password PWD Print Working Directory (Unix command) PWD Public Works Department PWD Present Working Directory PWD Person with a Disability PWD Portuguese Water Dog (breed) (R)) system was used to provide realtime annular pressure measurements, which gave EEX confidence to drill deeper without exceeding the formation fracture pressure. In order to withstand the extreme downhole conditions, Sperry-Sun modified its PWD tool, boosting the pressure limits from a rating of approximately 20,000 psi to 22,500 psi. Excellent on-the-job decision-making from Sperry-Sun engineering personnel was also cited by Prater as critical to the project's success. The GOM records include the following: original hole measured depth: 27,864 ft, TVD at 26,978 ft; production string measured depth: 25,145 ft, TVD at 24,319 ft; sidetrack measured depth (MD): 26,750 ft, TVD 25,772 ft; 5" liner MD: 26,750 ft, TVD 25,772 ft. As The Complete Fluids Company, Baroid Drilling Fluids is a global leader in offering comprehensive cost-effective solutions that improve fluids systems efficiency, performance and productivity, as well as minimizing waste treatment requirements. Baroid's operations support stockpoints, service centers and field laboratories in 53 countries and employ more than 3,000 employees worldwide. Sperry-Sun, a Division of Dresser Industries, Inc., with more than 3,400 employees worldwide, provides a wide range of energy-related drilling expertise, technology, and services. The year 2000 will mark Sperry-Sun's 70th year since the company opened its doors for business. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Dresser Industries, Inc. is a leading global supplier to the total hydrocarbon energy stream. Dresser's product and service offerings encompass sophisticated drilling and well construction systems as well as technologies, engineered equipment and project management for the transportation, processing and conversion of oil and natural gas. PETROFREE and PWD are registered trademarks of Baroid Technology, Inc. SOURCE Baroid Drilling Fluids
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/CONTACT: Becky Lowicki-Hood, 281-871-5111, or rlowicki@ddpo.com, or Bill Henn, 713-620-7111, or bhenn@baroid.com, both of Baroid Drilling Fluids; or Robin Goodale of Sperry-Sun, 281-871-4430, or rgoodale@sperry-sun.com/ (DI) CO: Baroid Drilling Fluids; Sperry-Sun; Dresser Industries, Inc.; EEX Corporation; Baroid Technology, Inc. ST: Texas IN: OIL SU: DB-CD -- DAM035 -- 5173 08/10/98 17:34 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com |
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