Integrated Operations for Efficiency Improvements of the Drilling Process.

Abstract

The industry is developing new automated technology which improves operations efficiency and makes it possible to move personnel onshore. This demands changes in the conventional work process which is done by re- organization of personnel and responsibilities. In the onshore centers people are able work in multi disciplinary teams and monitoring and supervising drilling parameters on large screens. Working in multi disciplinary teams results in a collectively greater competence solving challenging problems in addition to being focused on real problems and what is happening down hole.

Automatically measuring drilling fluid properties and drilling operation parameters increase operations efficiency. It is vital for an operation that real- time data from surface and down hole sensors is qualitatively good and reliable. This makes it possible for people onshore to faster address problems, react to unwanted down hole situations, optimize the well placement and improve drilling efficiency. New automated drilling equipment and measuring methods like RSS, TruTrak and mud pulse telemetry provides faster data transmissions, improved hole quality, increased ROP and minimum wear and damage on tools. New automated technology e.g. mud logger systems, instruments for measurement on mud and digital microscopes used by the geologist is designed to eliminate the need for human interaction, suppose to be more reliable, reduce non- productive time and makes it possible to detect system failures before they happen. All the mentioned factors reduce operational costs significantly in addition to the safety value it is having people onshore.

There are some technological challenges left related to information, modeling and implementation before there is a smooth transition to remotely control operations.

Drilling contractors and cross trained offshore personnel are required to take over responsibility of tasks needed to be handled offshore when personnel are moved onshore. Hands on tasks like building BHA assembly and maintenance of surface sensors occur at rig site. Analytical issues like log interpretation and reporting are handled onshore.

After conversations with different companies, the main challenge automating the drilling process seems to be people being skeptic to changes and to be moved onshore. Especially elderly people are reluctant to changes even though they now there exist automated technologies that provide better results than humans. The main concern by the users is the communication lines between the onshore and offshore units.

In addition to reduced costs, IO and automated technologies are designed to meet challenges users finds a challenge, limit poor drilling practice and eliminates poor working environments at rig site.

The automated technologies analyzed in this report are developed to reduce the workload of mud engineers, mud loggers, directional drillers and geologists. Automation is not limited to these employments. Other processes can also be automated and but are not discussed in this report, this can be done in further work. One can look deeper into other employments possibilities for improving operations efficiency by IO.