1. Macondo:
BP MC 252 A-1

2. BP MACONDO WELL

3. Conclusion: 252 #A-1 should encounter well known geological conditions
Same age rocks & pressures
Geology Trend
Conclusion: 252 #A-1 should encounter
well known geological conditions
What else does this map tell us?

4. The Crust Under the Gulf of Mexico
Is drilling of MC 252 on the frontier of
engineering technology?
Oceanic Crust
If any part of gray area is melted
during future mountain building,
a basalt rock will be created.

5. Land Is drilling of MC 252 on the frontier of engineering technology?
Lower Cretaceous Edwards Limestone
reef trend
Land
Austin

6. 252 #A-1 just another of
numerous deep water
oil and gas fields

7. The geologic model: columnar salt dome

8. The Pre-drilling Model
Salt Dome Knobs on the Ocean Floor
The Pre-drilling Model

9. The geologic model: columnar salt dome
Water
Pre-drilling seismic subsurface image
Salt Dome
Gas
Oil

10. Pre-drilling seismic subsurface image
Salt
Oil reservoir
objectives
A Closer Look

11. Salt
Possible over pressure

12. Reading a Wire Line Electrical Log
9 5/8“csg
Moderate over pressure
7” csg
Reading a Wire Line Electrical Log

13. Reading a Wire Line Electrical Log
Sandstone
(reservoir)
Shale
non-reservoir
Water
Oil & Gas
Formation
pressure
increasing
to the right

14. Drilling & Completing the Well
Thick Objective
Reservoirs
Oil
MTD 18340’

15. 9 5/8” csg
Drilling the Well
Drill hole
Drill Pipe
Drilling mud

16. Completing the Well 9 5/8” pipe cemented to drill hole
Drilling the hole
below 9 5/8”
Drill hole
Drill String
Running 7” pipe
Drilling mud
Cementing
7” pipe

17. Completing the Well Heavy mud replaced by light sea water Heavy
Drilling
mud
Light
Sea
Water
Heavy mud
replaced by
light sea water
Cement
failed

18. Drilling Ship
Sea level
Blow-out
preventer
failed
Shear rams
failed
Blow-out
preventer
Ocean bottom
7 “ pipe
Sandstones
and
Shales

20. 18340’ TD