Abstract:
In the oil and gas exploration and development in the Kuqa foreland, a series of severe challenges are faced, including ultra-deep, high-steep, ultra-thick, extremely-narrow, extremely-difficult, and "three-high" conditions. To address these complex geological conditions, after years of exploration and practice, the oilfield has integrated more refined stratigraphic characterization, formation pressure prediction, and wellbore pressure control methods. This has led to the development of a series of well control technologies, including pre-drilling 3D formation pressure field prediction, well structure design for salt layer isolation and reservoir-specific drilling, ultra-high-pressure brine and hydrocarbon handling technologies, and high-temperature high-pressure well control equipment. These advancements have strongly promoted the safe and efficient development of oil and gas resources in the foreland area. Practice has shown that 3D pressure field prediction technology, based on structural modeling, velocity studies, and well-seismic inversion, has significantly improved formation prediction accuracy. Furthermore, high-pressure brine handling, fine managed pressure drilling in pressure-sensitive formations, and overflow well control technology using the bullheading method combined with throttled circulation have effectively ensured safe and efficient drilling within ultra-thick salt layers. Since their application, these series of achievements have reduced the drilling cycle in the Kuqa foreland from 287 days to 259 days, providing efficient support for natural gas exploration and development.