The use of alternative materials for drill pipe to extend drilling reach in shallow reservoirs

Master's thesis in Petroleum engineeringOne of the limiting factors for extended reach and horizontal drilling is high torque and drag values. One way to reduce torque & drag is to reduce the weight of the drill pipe by exchanging the standard steel with other materials that weigh less. This technology has potential to extend drilling length and/or to be cost-effective in drilling some wells. This thesis focuses on whether alternative materials for the drill pipe could be an alternative for shallow reservoirs such as the shallow Skrugard reservoir in the Barents sea, which is planned for development in the next few years. The results of the simulations show that a tapered string with 1500 m of aluminum pipe gives the longest possible drillable length. If a string with just one material is to be used, a normal S-135 string will be the best alternative due to its high buckling resistance, as compared to available alternative material