CONTROLLED DRILLING FOR LAYING OF PETROLEUM PIPELINES IN ROCKY GROUND

Cel

This project consists of studying, designing and manufacturing a complete lowdepth, controlled drilling equipment able to drill in hard soils where petroleum pipelines are to be laid.
This method allows the crossing of natural or artificial obstacles ( rivers, shores, urban sites. . . ) found on the laying paths.
For many years controlled drilling has been employed in industrial constructions all over the world but for technical reasons its use at the present time is restricted to loose and soft ground only.
The aim of this project is to extend the use of horizontal drilling to sites where consolidated or rocky facies are found.
The technical objective is to lay petroleum pipelines with diameters of less than 42 inches and lengths of several hundred meters.
Controlled drilling is extremely competitive with conventional techniques such as dredging and bridge building from both economical and safety points of view. Environmental protection is also ensured by this drilling method.

Controlled drilling is generally carried out in three stages.
The first stage consists in drilling a small diameter pilot hole, beneath the obstacle. The drilling device is controlled by means of a steering tool which controls the direction of the drilling tool.
The second stage consists in reaming the hole to the desired diameter in successive passes if required.
The third stage is the pipeline insertion into the hole.
The different technical parts which will be studied are the following :
- drilling tool
- reamer
- device providing thrust on drilling string
- deviation of the drilling
- removal of cuttings
- stabilization of the walls
- bottom/surface links
- surface equipments.
The project programme, planned for a period of three years, comprises five phase :
Phase 1- Study of technological transfers
The aim here is to obtain full knowledge of both equipment specifications and adoptable technical transfers by means of a market study and technical research of the different existing methods which could be used
Phase 2- Manufacturing and testing of a drilling equipment prototype
The selection, resulting from the previous phase, would enable a prototype to be manufactured with existing and proved materials.
This prototype would have to be able to carry out the first stage of the controlled drilling : the drilling of a small diameter pilot hole (less than 12 inches).
It would be tested in order to determine its capacities and any eventual improvements to be made.
Phase 3- Detailed preliminary project and construction of a pilot tool
The object of this phase is to define and design a complete drilling pilot tool, from the results of the previous phase.
The different parts of the pilot tool are :
- the drilling tool
- the loads transmission device
- the drilling deviation equipment
- the device for consolidating the walls
- the bottom/surface link system.
Phase 4-Detailed preliminary project and construction of a reamer This phase is identical to the previousone but the equipment to be made here is th reamer which enlarges the diameter of the hole. Phase 5- General tests, optimization and qualification of the drilling rig
The drilling equipment will be subjected to a series of tests, and particularly to on-site tests in order to debug and qualify the system.

Program(-y)

ENG-HYDROCARB 2C - Programme (EEC) of support for technological development in the hydrocarbons sector, 1986-1989

Temat(-y)

1.2 - DRILLING

Zaproszenie do składania wniosków

Data not available

System finansowania

DEM - Demonstration contracts

Koordynator

GERTH

Wkład UE

Brak danych

Adres

232 AV. NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
92500 Rueil Malmaison
Francja

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