The influx-management-envelope (IME) concept is an advanced, innovative way to assess influx conditions in managed-pressure-drilling (MPD) operations, offering an improved tool for the decision-making process. The complete paper presents the process of developing the IME concept for a deepwater MPD operation for the first time.
The IME Concept
The IME concept defines the operational envelope in case of incidental influxes during MPD operations. It is based on kick-tolerance concepts, in which a relationship between volume and intensity of the influx is established and plotted as a graph. A resulting combination of regions within the volume-and-intensity graph depicts the conditions in which an influx can be removed safely from the wellbore by use of the elements of the primary wellbore barrier; otherwise, the secondary wellbore barrier should be engaged and the well shut in conventionally.
