Drilling Engineering and Formation Evaluation: An Integrated Approach to Improve Real Time Drilling Optimization

Abstract

In the current market climate, the industry is in a time squeeze and it is crucial for future value generation to reduce the well construction time and cost. Drilling Optimization practices have helped to increase drilling efficiency while reducing the likelihood of downhole failures. To see this effort further, an adequate engineering plan to design the operation strategy, along with the understanding of the geological challenges, assists in establishing a more robust real-time optimization program. Real-time drilling optimization helps to improve drilling performance by providing early warning detection of downhole drilling events, maximum allowable deviation of planned vs. actual hydraulics and torque & drag measurements, and finding the "sweet spot" by use of drilling parameters. These processes can then further be optimized by the integration of pre-job engineering and formation evaluation measurements. Pre-job engineering seeks to ensure the BHA is able to resist vibration- related events, while the drillstring and bit are selectively examined for optimal hydraulics and resistance to torque and drag related issues. The pre-job engineering also considers ways to improve the rig’s overall efficiency, by eliminating invisible lost time while both in and out of hole. New generation of logging while drilling measurements help to provide reliable prediction of pore pressure for early warning of circulation problems, collapse events, lost circulation, blowout, and kicks. This process involves a depth-by-depth correlation between actual borehole lithology and pre-modeled unconfined / confined compressive strength (UCS/CCS). Optimized mechanical specific energy is evaluated using drilling parameters such as torque, RPM and ROP. The resulting two curves are then defined by calculating the value of MSE/CCS-UCS fraction to derive a drilling efficiency indicator. By correlating these curves, the drilling optimization team can identify geological formations that have the optimum correlation then compute the efficiency indicator for the interval, using it as baseline for drilling each hole section. This workflow guides the operations to make necessary real time adjustments to mitigate potential problems. The workflow demonstrates the integration from the pre-job engineering design to the automation of the real time integrated evaluation, along with the accuracy of the new generation of Logging While Drilling technologies as a cost-effective solution to mitigate non-productive time and optimize drilling rates through the implementation of a solid drilling optimization program during the execution of ERD, offshore and unconventional projects.

Analysis and Multi-Objective Optimization of the Rate of Penetration and Mechanical Specific Energy: A Case Study Applied to a Carbonate Hard Rock Reservoir Based on a Drill Rate Test Using Play-Back Methodology

“…The drilling efficiency is directly proportional to the total non-productive time (NPT) [46]. Usually, the NPT represents one-third of the total rig operational expenditure [47]. A statistical analysis in the Gulf of Mexico showed that in 10 years, more than 12% of the NPT was due to a loss of circulation and about 18% was a result of kicks and wellbore instabilities [48].…”

Automatic interpretation of structural plane parameters in borehole camera images from drilling engineering using MOORA method

“…[16] A thorough autopsy of the case was performed using a private third-party approach. Based on an advanced drilling engineering method, to determine the root causes of the incident [17] Pre-job engineering, also inside the hole Invisible when out and about Rig's overall by eliminating time and ways to improve performance considers [18] As data volume increases, remote engineers Their analysis has a huge impact Focus on tools that can also drive efficiency to be paid. Real-time hydraulics and torque and tools such as drag (T&D) analysis and by using engineering models, Engineers work on the position of a well can be determined before half.…”

“…Different Suitable grinding in grinding processes six including selection of process parameters Decision problems are considered. [18] Proposed a A two-stage approach: First Supplier evaluation at stage used implicitly. MULTIMOORA with triangular fuzzy numbers.…”