DRILLBENCH ®
Technology for challenging drilling operations
The demand for oil and gas is pushing the industry into increasingly challenging areas. Much of the remaining reserves are located in deep water or deep reservoirs with high or extreme pressure and temperature conditions.
Successful drilling of challenging wells requires in-depth understanding of the hydraulics during all phases of the operation. The drilling process is highly dynamic and complicated to model; thus, much of the dynamics have traditionally been neglected. However, with diminishing operational margins the importance of dynamic effects is growing. Coupled with increasing well construction cost from increasing water depth or total well depth, software tools capable of modelling the dynamics become essential and strategically important.
With more difficult wells the risk of well control incidents increases. Controlling such incidents may be challenging as the well conditions become more extreme. Proper risk evaluation performed with a dynamic multiphase well control model is required in order to drill these wells.
Drillbench ® is focusing on these two areas:
- Dynamic modelling of drilling hydraulics
- Risk evaluation through dynamic well control modelling
Drillbench ® is based on the results of two decades of drilling research and development in Norway. More than 20 million
USD has been invested in modelling of the drilling process, small and full-scale experiments, and verification projects.

E-field solutions
E-field solutions
E-field solutions with real-time monitoring and control have growing importance as the drilling operations become more complex. Tighter margins require close monitoring of well conditions. Applying software in combination with available downhole instrumentation is the predominant means of achieving control. The increasing use of managed pressure drilling (MPD) also opens for automatic regulation of the surface choke to maintain a desired bottomhole pressure.
Runtime modules or complete systems
SPT offers flexible and configurable solutions. Run-time modules (Drillbench ® RTI) as well as complete control systems (edpm ® ) can be offered depending on customer requirements. Both solutions communicate through industry standards.
SPT is an experienced and reliable provider of real time solutions based on dynamic models. SPT has delivered valuable e-field solutions to an increasing number of customers both within flow assurance and drilling.
The models in Drillbench ® provide a unique basis for E-field applications. Accurate dynamic modelling of the wellbore flow process yields reliable results for monitoring and a basis for any automatic control of the operation.
Example of the Drillbench ® run-time module used as an ECD monitor.

DRILLBENCH ®
Easy set up of session files including the advanced features
Data entry in Drillbench ® is easy even if it contains a lot of advanced features. Input parameters are logically grouped and graphical previews of the entered information guide the user in the specification process. It is easy to navigate between the different windows and basic input can be found in the daily drilling report. Advanced input can be specified in properties windows or the built in suggestions can be used.
The Drillbench ® start-up page provides an overview page listing of all the key parameters for quick browsing through several files.
It is easy to navigate in the user interface. All basic input is easily entered and more advanced parameters are moved to special properties windows. Visual feedback is applied on all tables.

Unique simulation and data analysis feature
The results from a simulation can be viewed in one of the multiple graphical split windows. A default plot configuration is available, but the user can easily configure and define new layouts to match the objective of a simulation.
Keeping the results from one simulation, the user can modify operational parameters or load a different case file to study different sensitivities.
Reporting and graphics output
The plots from the graphical split windows can be exported to a large number of graphic formats. The user can take a variety of snapshots of single plots or whole split windows.
The default plot appearance can be modified to make graphics for direct import to presentations and reports. Modifications and additions to text, fonts, legends, axis and colors can easily be applied for added clarity.
Drillbench ® provides a number of different reports; including input, current results and a comprehensive result report. All reports from Drillbench ® are in html format and can easily be distributed to others or exported to Microsoft Excel.
Input of large data sets (e.g. laboratory data) is simplified by extensive use of spreadsheet tables. Copy and paste can be used to exchange data with other spreadsheets (Excel). Visualization of the tabulated data sets makes it very easy and fast to detect input errors.
The graphic views can be organised to visualise important trends. Running multiple simulations can illustrate sensitivity and show operational impact.
Drillbench ® result report. All reports are in html format and can easily be exported or printed.
Plot styles can easily be changed and customised.

DRILLBENCH ®
Dynamic hydraulic effects in the wellbore
The combination of accurate modelling, graphical presentation of results and sensitivity studies, as well as, the ability to simulate “look-ahead” are of special importance whenever the design margins decrease. It is well known that in advanced wells like HPHT wells, deep water wells, extended reach wells, wells in depleted reservoirs or in areas with gas or water injection, the margins between pore pressure and fracture pressure may be small. In the future, the drilling targets will be even more difficult. Drilling advanced and complicated wells requires an extra planning effort.
The Dynamic Hydraulics module in Drillbench ® can be used to simplify this planning process and helps the drilling engineer to make better decisions.
Drillbench ® adds a new dimension to drilling hydraulics by including dynamic temperature calculations in the hydraulic model. It is a result of extensive R&D performed at
Rogaland Research within flow modelling of non-Newtonian fluids and offers the user an easier and more exact evaluation of how the operational conditions and critical fluid properties influence pressure (ECD) and temperature conditions in the well.
By using the Dynamic Hydraulics module in the planning stage of the well, the drilling engineer will be able to monitor the processes; thus, allowing the user to ensure that well conditions meet the design requirements throughout the operations. The parameters used in normal operations (i.e., circulation, rotation, drilling) can all be altered to reproduce real operational situations. Critical parameters can be visualised at several locations in the well through the flexible graphics.

Example:
Optimise drilling procedures
The example to the right is typical for Drillbench ® .
It illustrates planning of a challenging section in an
HTHP well. The margin between pore and fracture pressure is small. Different procedures for drilling the section can be specified and the operational impact can be observed in one of the graphical views.
A selection of plots that illustrates the differences can be defined.
The case shows the importance of selecting an optimised fluid system. In this case the section cannot be drilled with one of the tested fluids. The second fluid system can be used, but due to thermal effects it requires specific procedures for ramping up the flowrate to avoid braking the formation.
Example:
Pressure build-up in closed well
This example shows the effect of thermal expansion in a closed-in well. As the temperature increases the wellbore pressure may increase significantly. The type of mud and temperature condition in the well has considerable impact on the pressure build-up.
Applications
- Fingerprinting
- Evaluation of thermal effects
- Calculation of equivalent static and
circulating density (ESD & ECD)
- Calculation of temperature profiles
versus time for different operational
conditions
- Calculation of density and rheology
profiles
- Evaluation of hydrate formation risk in
deep water operations
- Interpretation of PWD data
- Development of operational
guidelines in critical wells
- Dynamic calculation of surge & swab
pressures
- Sensitivity studies
Example:
Dynamic surge and swab effects
In wells with narrow margins the ability to run casings or liners or pull the drillpipe without exceeding the pressure barriers may be a limiting factor. The dynamic surge and swab module in
Drillbench ® can help identifying the maximum pipe speed that can be applied before the pressure margins are exceeded.

DRILLBENCH
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Well control
Using an accurate dynamic kick simulator in advanced well design is important in order to reduce kick frequency. The drilling operations are moving towards deeper water, higher pressures and temperatures, longer and more complex well paths, and complex reservoirs with a combination of depleted and high pressure zones. It is important to evaluate the risk in order to reach challenging drilling objectives.
More resources must be spent in planning, as well as, in operational design and evaluation. Advanced well control software is a valuable tool in this process.
The Dynamic Well Control application in Drillbench ® is a unique tool for engineering, decision making support and risk evaluation. Used by drilling engineers worldwide Drillbench ® achieves the best well control available.
The software is based on the R&D activities in multiphase flow modelling, laboratory and full-scale experiments, and extensive verification. The simulator uses advanced mathematical models to simulate the flow process in the well. It handles a variety of wells, including many special and complex conditions.

Example:
Well control modeling in oilbased mud
The example shows modelling of a kick incident in oilbased mud. The kick distribution can be studied and procedures can be optimised in order to control the situation without fracturing the formation. With a proper multiphase model the user can get information about the gas distribution, how much of the kick that is dissolved in the oilphase at all times, when there will be free gas in the wellbore, and when and at what rates the kick will appear at the surface.
Maximum pressure loads at casing shoe and surface can also be observed.
Applications
- Evaluation of well control procedures
- Kick tolerance studies
- Evaluation of casing setting depths
- Casing design
- Design of surface equipment
- Evaluation of kick detection systems
- Post analysis of kick incidents
- Risk evaluations
- Personnel training prior to challenging
drilling operations
It is easy to investigate different sensitivities in the
Well Control Module. Several simulations can be run on top of each other as in this example showing pressure at casing shoe and gas flowrate out for a kick of 5 and10 m 3 . The plot also shows how you can define a reference value (maximum gas flowrate out) for the sensitivity studies.
Example:
Kick tolerance mode
Finding the kick tolerance is an important part of the well design. Realistic kick tolerance modelling will help define the maximum open hole section.
Drillbench ® provides an easy and flexible tool with output tailored to kick tolerance evaluations. The Well Control module has a flexible fluid specification and readily portrays e.g. the effect of taking a wet gas or condensate kick rather than a methane kick.
The Well Control Module is running through several kick simulations. The objective is to find the relation between the maximum kick size [that can be handled] and kick intensity (difference between reservoir and wellbore pressure). In the above, the left hand plot shows the pressure difference at the casing shoe for different kick sizes and kick intensities. The right hand one shows the kick size that gives a max wellbore pressure equal to the fracture pressure for different kick intensities.

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The Drillbench ® technology is offered both as software licenses and as consulting services. A consulting project may be an ideal solution in cases where the resources to perform advanced modelling are scarce, in cases where a second opinion about the well design is wanted or in cases requiring a jump start in application of the technology.
SPT personnel can assist with a variety of services ranging from dynamic hydraulic analysis and well control to comprehensive analysis projects leveraging on the total SPT competency. Our consultants apply specialised Drillbench ® usage and modelling to achieve reliable results.
SPT covers the well life-cycle from the reservoir through the drilling and well process to, modelling of the production phase. As a multidisciplinary company SPT can provide scalable solutions that fit the needs.
Typical consultancy tasks:
- Modelling of ECD & ESD
- Modelling of thermal effects
- Fingerprinting
- Kick tolerance calculations
- Surge & swab calculations
- Design of well control equipment
- Sensitivity studies
- Evaluation of well design
- Risk evaluations
A large number of clients have applied our services and experienced the difference that can be achieved by proper use of advanced modelling tools like Drillbench ® .

“We have been using Drillbench ® Presmod and Kick successfully for well planning and follow-up. In addition, it has been used for crew training purposes on HPHT wells in the UK sector.”
BP, Aberdeen
“Both Drillbench ® Presmod and Kick have been very useful for decision making in two difficult HPHT wells and have contributed to us reaching the planned targets.”
ConocoPhillips, Scandinavian Division
“Calculation of lock-up and maximum run-in depth when running liners is very accurate in Drillbench ® Frictionmaster .
With FrictionMaster we detected a lock-up situation in a landing string that was not detected with other software.
The change in string design has a huge potential as the costs associated with a lock-up situation can be huge.”
Hydro, Norway
“Drillbench ® Kick was used very successfully during the drilling of our first deepwater exploration well in Angola.
The well was drilled deeper than the originally planned TD, and Drillbench ® Kick was very important to stretch the well design with the result of saving one casing string.”
Hydro, Angola
“WWCI currently uses Drillbench ® to assist our clients with critical well planning and resolution of well control problems. The simulators in Drillbench ® are versatile and realistic. They provide practical tools for kick analysis, dynamic kill and other aspects of engineering for well planning or emergency response operations. They represent a significant addition in the advancement of well control technology.”
Wild Well Control Inc., USA
“The planning of +5000m TVD exploration wells in a remote area in the Iranian desert, requires engineering software packages that can identify limitations, optimise the casing programme and subsequently cut cost. Hydro
Zagros uses the Drillbench ® Hydraulics packages both in the planning phase as well as execution phase, to ensure that we reach our targets.”
Hydro Zagros Oil & Gas, Iran
“With Drillbench ® Dynaflodrill ’s dynamic UBD simulation capabilities, we can discover UBD features not possible to unveil with steady-state software.”
Shell Deepwater, USA
”The Drillbench ® Presmod dynamic hydraulics simulation program was successfully used on the Marlin A-5 well:
The program produced accurate down-hole temperature and density profiles. The accuracy of the predictions was confirmed by downhole PWD measurements.”
Baker Hughes Inteq, USA
“After a successful qualification period, where the accuracy of the model was tested by comparing simulated results with actual UBD well data, Dynaflodrill has been a very valuable tool in planning and training for the UBD drilling campaign on Gullfaks.”
Statoil, Norway

SPT Group is the world leader in dynamic modelling for the oil and gas industry. Employing highly skilled professionals worldwide, SPT Group provides a combination of software and consulting services within multiphase flow and reservoir engineering.
www.sptgroup.com
Australia , Perth
Germany , Hamburg
Tel: +61 8 9286 6500
Tel: +49 40 27 85 88 0
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Tel: +52 555 211 9211
Tel: +47 64 84 45 50 www.drillbench.com
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Tel: +47 55 54 38 70
Tel: +7 095 135 88 16
Tel: +971 4 391 4130
Tel: +44 1483 307 870
Tel: +1 281 496 9898 drilling@sptgroup.com