AN INTEGRATED DRILLING/COMPLETION SYSTEM FOR OFFSHORE GAS HYDRATES

THIS RESEARCH EVALUATES THE FEASIBILITY OF USING AN INTEGRATED DRILLIN/COMPLETION SYSTEM FOR EXPLORATION, TESTING, AND PRODUCTION OF OFFSHORE NATURAL GAS HYDRATES. THE DRILLING SYSTEM IS BASED ON A LOW POWER HYDRAULICALLY DRIVEN MOTOR DESIGNED FOR DRILLING IN HOMOGENEOUS SOFT SEDIMENTS AND HYDRATE-BEARING SEDIMENTS. THIS PROJECT IS DESIGNING A COMPLETION SYSTEM THAT CAN BE INTEGRATED WITH THE DRILL TO ALLOW LOW COST EXPLORATION OF OFFSHORE GAS HYDRATE ACCUMULATIONS FROM A CONVENTIONAL OIL FIELD SUPPLY VESSEL. THE PHASE I FEASIBILITY STUDY ADDRESSES THE ISSUES OF OFFSHORE HYDRATE OCCURRENCE, SEDIMENT GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES, BOREHOLE STABILITY CONTROL, AND COMPLETION TECHNIQUES FOR GAS HYDRATES.