Abstract

A reliable predrill pressure model acts as a guiding light in an otherwise dark trail while drilling exploratory or near-field exploratory wells. Knowing what to expect in subsurface is not only essential for well design and casing plan but also necessary to gauge the expected challenges and to prepare an effective mitigation plan. Challenges posed while drilling the unexplored formations grow multifold if the environment to be drilled-in is deep water HPHT. As due to a relatively less steep NCT (normal compaction trend) in deep-water environment, the safe-operational-margin, commonly called