Energy demand continues to drive drilling activities worldwide, with increasingly challenging wells involving high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) conditions, depleted reservoirs, total losses, and other complexities. Both Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) and Underbalanced Drilling (UBD) techniques have evolved alongside advancing technologies to ensure safe and effective operations. When operations are well-prepared, incorporating best practices, contingency plans, and lessons learned from previous experiences, it becomes possible to drill wells previously deemed un-drillable and achieve well objectives successfully.

Real-world case histories of problematic wells—highlighting successful drilling and completion, as well as incidents encountered—provide valuable opportunities to develop a thorough and unbiased understanding of drilling challenges. Sharing these case histories is essential for operators and drilling contractors to learn from reliable, proven strategies, including background studies, selection criteria, successes, and challenges.

This session will explore various case histories, best practices, and lessons learned to support industry professionals in planning wells using MPD and UBD techniques. Additionally, insights into successes and shortcomings will be examined to further the safe and efficient application of MPD, UBD, and Dual Gradient Drilling (DGD) in modern drilling operations.

Session Manager: Harpreet Kaur Dalgit Singh, Weatherford; Thinh Vo, Halliburton; Mohamad Annas Omar, Mubadala Energy