Rhino XS2 reamer is the newest addition to the Rhino family of borehole enlargement technologies. The tool enables effective hole cleaning with full circulation rates. Additionally, the Rhino XS2 reamer eliminates cuttings from being created when pulling out of hole or performing other borehole enlargement strategies.
Broad applications
The Rhino XS2 reamer is ideal for use with rotary steerable systems and is particularly well suited for challenging applications, including:
- extended-reach drilling;
- operations in highly abrasive formation;
- backreaming in loosely consolidated formations;
- underreaming while drilling tight holes, swelling or abrasive formations;
- wells with ECD or casing clearance issues.
Flexibility
Rhino XS2 reamer offers custom reaming solutions, including:
- enlarging a portion of the wellbore;
- cement cleanout;
- expandable stabilization;
- use as a rathole eliminator (Rhino RHE) system upper reamer.
Full-cycle actuation
Beginning full-cycle actuation involves pumping an activation ball downhole, which shears the sleeve and exposes the fluid ports. The reamer’s unique design positions moving parts farther from critical flow ports.
Drilling fluid flows through the fluid ports, opening the cutter blocks. The hole is then drilled and enlarged. The tool has three ports, facilitating cuttings removal.
Once drilling and underreaming is performed, the cycle is completed by pumping another ball down. The deactivation pins shear, releasing the sleeve and ball to the catcher, and closing fluid ports to the cutter blocks.
Circulating fluid can then be pumped at maximum flow rates for optimal hole cleaning at TD without activating the cutter blocks. Multiple bottom-up cycles can be pumped as required. When the tool is inside the casing, additional cycles can be pumped without the risk of damaging the casing. The deactivated tool trips out without generating new cuttings.
Case Study1
Achieve effective hole cleaning at high flow rates
In the Chirag field offshore Azerbaijan, BP’s underreaming operation called for a 6.-in rathole to be expanded to 8 in, with a separate cleanout BHA to be used for effective hole cleaning at a high flow rate and with mud conditioning prior to a completion run. Because circulation would continue with a Rhino XS reamer inside the casing, a solution was needed to keep the reamer arms closed. However, the 6375 series Rhino XS reamer does not have a deactivation option; once the arms are activated, they will open each time the pumps are on, which would damage the casing ID while circulating and hole cleaning with the reamer inside the casing.
Perform underreaming and cleanout in one trip
To overcome the reaming and cleanout challenges, Schlumberger recommended drilling and underreaming the 6.-in × 8-in hole section with directional tools below a 6375 series Rhino XS reamer, then underreaming a 6.-in rathole to 8 in with a separate cleanout BHA.
Because the 6375 series Rhino XS reamer cannot be deactivated, Schlumberger suggested using a 5-in WELL COMMANDER valve from M-I SWACO, a Schlumberger company, directly above the reamer to bypass flow to the annulus above, effectively keeping the cutter arms collapsed. Such a configuration would enable circulating at a much higher flow rate than with the reamer alone. A separate 7-in WELL COMMANDER valve was also placed higher up in the string (1,185 m from the bit) and was intended for circulating during hole cleaning above the 7?-in liner top inside the 9?-in casing. This would enable cleaning of the liner top and conditioning of the mud without tripping the 5-in WELL COMMANDER valve up to perform the same operation and then run back to TD as per the completion program.
Saved 2 days of rig time offshore and set operational standard
The complex mud conditioning and wellbore cleanout operation was successfully completed with 21 hours of circulation at a maximum rate of 700 galUS/min with 5-in and 7-in WELL COMMANDER valves above the Rhino XS reamer. The reamer’s arms were confirmed closed inside casing prior to starting high-rate circulation and mud conditioning.
This combination saved BP 48 hours of rig time on an offshore platform and achieved the customer goals while also setting a precedent for future wells. The configuration was accepted as a standard BHA for the 6.-in × 8-in hole section on at least two other BP platforms.
Case Study2
Underream while drilling a high-angle, extended-reach well
An operator onshore Alaska needed to underream a high-angle, extended-reach well while drilling through interbedded sand and shale formations. The reamer would be required to build from 53° to 80° inclination and turn to 51° while maintaining a dogleg severity (DLS) of 3.5°/100 ft. Additionally, the well plan required a high average ROP and the deactivation of the reamer at the final enlargement section TD. The most challenging underreaming would occur during the section’s build and turn, where the reamer would need to drill through an unstable shale formation at a high angle. Because of the remote location of the well, it was important to the operator to complete the section in a single run.
Optimize reamer and BHA compatibility ahead of tool deployment
Schlumberger suggested the operator run the Rhino XS2 reamer due to its advanced cutting structure and ability to deactivate upon reaching section TD. By using the IDEAS platform, the operator was able to achieve optimized drilling BHA dynamics and determine bit, reamer, RSS, and measurement tool compatibility. This design process eliminates costly trial-and-error testing while helping ensure improved tool longevity, reduced stick/slip, decreased shock and vibration, and maximum ROP. Additionally, HART software enabled the operator to run drilling hydraulics simulations ahead of field deployment.
Achieved ROP greater than 100 ft/h and set underreaming section length records
By using the Rhino XS2 reamer, the operator was able to reach section TD in a single run while maintaining an acceptable ROP of greater than 100 ft/h. On subsequent runs, the reamer was used to drill section lengths greater than 12,000 ft on a consistent basis. The lengths of the underreamed sections were 12,031 and 12,737 ft, which represent new section length world records for the 9?-in × 11-in hole size using the Rhino XS2 reamer. The previous section length record for the Rhino XS2 reamer was 11,941 ft.
“We’ve had great success with the Rhino XS2 reamer. We’ve continued to push the limits of the tool—both in terms of run length and drilling parameters— and it repeatedly delivers. Leveraging tools like the IDEAS platform, we’ve dialed in our BHA design and taken our on-bottom performance to the next level.”
——Drilling engineer
Underreaming-while-drilling operation
石油圈
