EC-Drill® vs. EC-Drill® Dual MPD – Unpacking the Key Differences for Drilling Success

At first glance, EC-Drill® and EC-Drill® Dual MPD may look like two variations of the same managed pressure drilling (MPD) system. Both are built on Enhanced Drilling’s proven Controlled Mud Level (CML) technology, and both have been successfully deployed in deepwater operations. 

But beneath the surface, they serve different purposes, and those differences are key to optimizing well performance and safety.

The EC-Drill® System – Proven CML Technology

EC-Drill® was originally developed to eliminate the flat time associated with MPD and solve the challenge of drilling in depleted areas. 

At its core, EC-Drill® uses a subsea pump module to lower or raise the mud level in the riser. This changes the hydrostatic pressure in the well without having to displace the well, allowing pressure management while drilling. 

Key Advantages of EC-Drill®:

• Near instant detection of influxes and losses through subsea monitoring.
• No impact from rig heave, ensuring accurate volume control in all conditions.
• Improve and simplifly the well architecture for deepwater wells.
• Enable drilling in depleted formations.
• Avoid flat-time commonly associcated with MPD
  
  

In practice, EC-Drill® has enabled operators to extend field life, reduce cost, and drill in fields that might otherwise have been abandoned. 

Watch webinar: EC-Drill® Controlled Mud Level Technology to learn more. 

Enter EC-Drill® Dual MPD – Combining CML and SBP

While EC-Drill® offers precision and flexibility, it does not cover influx management. That’s where EC-Drill® Dual MPD comes in. 

By adding a Riser Closure Device, the system enables seamless switching between open-riser and closed-riser modes – combining the strengths of both approaches in one integrated package. 

CML Mode – Efficient Day-to-Day Operations

• Precise pressure control and real-time adjustments
• Early kick detection via subsea monitoring
• Faster, safer tripping mitigating surge and swab pressures
• High operational efficiency with minimal flat time
  
  

SBP Mode – Advanced Influx Management

• Rapid influx suppression for enhanced well control
• Riser gas handling via controlled circulation
• Dynamic testing capabilities, including LOT/FIT and pore pressure testing
  
  

The Benefit: Dual-Mode Flexibility

Operators can drill efficiently in CML mode for normal operations and instantly transition to closed-mode when conditions demand it, all without displacing fluids or adding flat time. 

This design eliminates many of the drawbacks of traditional SBP systems: 

• No need for separate tripping mud or cementing mud
• No slow tripping or stripping operations
• Avoids high pressure at the casing shoe
• Fully usable in upper sections with large hole sizes and high ROPs
  
  

Watch webinar: Introducing EC-Drill® Dual MPD to learn more. 

Value Delivered to Operators

The impact of EC-Drill® and EC-Drill® Dual MPD is measured in reduced flat time, improved safety, and greater well economics. 

Common Benefits with EC-Drill®:

• Reduced casing strings: Achieved through the dual-gradient effect.
• Faster tripping: Riser level adjustments mitigate surge and swab, reducing tripping time.
• Improved cementing: Managed Pressure Cementing (MPC) ensures reliable barrier requirements using standard slurries without having to to displace the fluid in the well to other density before cementing.
• Higher production: Successful gravel packing in depleted reservoirs has boosted production by 20–40% compared to offset wells.
  
  

Added Advantages with EC-Drill® Dual MPD:  

• Influx Management with improved Kick tolerance – particularly important for deepwater operations. Can be performed at all times, even when running casing.
• Dynamic FITs and Pore pressure testing. Rapid determination of downhole conditions.
• Riser Gas Handling for added safety.

Together, these advantages give operators unparalleled flexibility, control, and operational confidence in deepwater and complex wells. 

Choosing the Right System

Both EC-Drill® and EC-Drill® Dual MPD are powerful Managed Pressure Drilling solutions — the difference lies in the demands of the well: 

• EC-Drill® provides a proven, efficient approach to drilling and completing wells in narrow windows.
• EC-Drill® Dual MPD expands capability for deepwater and high-risk wells, adding closer-riser functionality for active influx management and gas handling. 
  
  

In essence, EC-Drill® Dual MPD brings together the efficiency of CML with the ability to switch to a closed system – enabling operators to drill safer, faster, and further in the world’s most challenging environments.