Challenge of High-Temperature and High-Pressure Well Constructions with World-Class Drilling Technologies

Our company proudly holds a proven track record as the first Japanese operator to drill deepwater, high-temperature, and high-pressure (HPHT) wells in the Norwegian North Sea—an area governed by the world’s most stringent safety standards, namely NORSOK. Drilling operations under such severe conditions demand advanced engineering design, precise pressure control, and thorough safety management. From project planning to execution, we applied technologies conforming to international standards, successfully completing the drilling process exactly as planned.

Furthermore, in Vietnam, we undertook both exploratory and production well drilling as the operator of HPHT projects. For the exploratory wells, we pioneered the use of Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) technology at a time when it was still uncommon in the region, thereby acquiring invaluable operational know-how. This experience proved instrumental in the subsequent production well drilling, which we completed on schedule despite global project delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, while implementing rigorous preventive measures against infection.

Supporting these achievements is our Drilling Management System (DMS), developed initially for operations in the Norwegian North Sea. 
The DMS organizes drilling projects into five systematic phases—Appraise, Select, Define, Execute, and Review—clearly defining objectives, activities, deliverables, and responsibilities at each stage. In accordance with the project’s maturity, design precision, cost assessment, and risk evaluation are progressively refined, ensuring an integrated management framework from well design through drilling and completion. By incorporating the PIAI cycle (Plan–Implement–Assess–Improve), we implement a continuous improvement process that reflects post-drilling evaluations in subsequent projects, thereby achieving sustained enhancement in both technical and operational dimensions.

Our company adopts the fundamental principles of well barrier design in compliance with NORSOK D-010, the Norwegian standard for well integrity. Throughout the entire well lifecycle—from planning to drilling and production to abandonment—we implement multiple layers of safety measures to ensure the safe containment and proper management of reservoir fluids.

Our HPHT drilling technology and management systems have been extended beyond the oil and gas domain into geothermal well development. The management methodologies refined through operations in oil and gas projects—where daily operational costs can reach one hundred million yen—are equally effective in geothermal drilling. Geothermal wells pose unique challenges, including fluid behavior, equipment integrity, and thermal expansion of metals under extreme temperature. Drawing upon our extensive HPHT drilling experience, we have established a robust record of safely drilling geothermal wells, thereby contributing to the advancement of sustainable energy development.