Digitalization is believed to increase efficiency and operational safety while reducing cost. While many initiatives are directed towards automatization of the drilling process, there are other areas that potentially can provide additional cost reductions in the same order of magnitude or more. Founded in the emerging era of digitalization is a new Life Cycle Well Integrity Model (LCWIM) which will change work processes and roles of involved personnel. The model will support work from the planning phase through to the final plugging and abandonment (P&A) of wells. The philosophy used during the systemization of the LCWIM entails reduction of direct human involvement through digitalization and automation. This can reduce the aspect of human error, and focus the efforts of each employee towards the performance aspects of their work. An area where the benefits from this philosophy may be most evident is handling of experiences and improvement. The new work process will allow personnel to establish an experience using the interacive section in the LCWIM. The software would then propose the content of the experience in subsequent planning and well construction work – where relevant. Some other areas where the LCWIM applies this philosophy are in the digitalization and embedding of standards and operational procedures.
The oil and gas industry is constantly battling costly NPT in well construction and the production phase. Since the 90ies, there have been many initiatives to reduce NPT. The literature offers many technical improvements that eliminate specific errors and failures in the Well Construction phase, company internal campaigns and methods to focus on the most frequent time thieves, and proactive campaigns to boost performance. Digitalization may provide a step change in the fight against failure in planning and operations by the support of an interactive software built with learning features.
The background for the change in work process is maybe best stated by a proverb possibly attributed incorrectly to Albert Einstein: "Computers are incredibly fast, accurate, but stupid. Humans are incredibly slow, inaccurate, but brilliant. Together they may be powerful beyond imagination". A software is not likely to be as brilliant in problem-solving as humans, but it can accumulate and apply all human intelligence implemented over time for every relevant planning and operational situation. Reaching the software's design target ability to adapt to any type of well design and operational situation, the LCWIM can be a considerable tool for increasing safety and reducing NPT.