Shallow drilling losses are a significant problem in the Permian basin because of the presence of subsurface karst features. Karst weakens the soluble rock producing voids and caves systems that result in drilling losses. An operator drilling in Culberson County, Texas recently experienced total losses drilling four surface holes in a pair of neighboring pads located in bordering leases. Drilling into caves negatively affected operations by reducing the drilled footage per day, increasing fluid and cementing costs, and increasing the difficulty in performing satisfactory cementing jobs to cover the water table. This paper will describe the issues faced drilling with losses and explain how to manage the risk of losses by improving surface well placement with airborne gravity full tensor gradiometry (FTG) to map subsurface hazards. Airborne gravity FTG measures the directional components of the gravity field. Multiple simultaneously acquired tensor components allow identification of anomalies associated with subsurface voids. For this project, a Basler BT67 aircraft acquired data over the targeted expanse with line spacing of 328 ft. The aerial survey took place over 3 days in July 2017. Feasibility modeling using Castile formation cave systems reveals detectability of single caves larger than 10 m diameter with FTG, however networks of smaller caves are also detectable. Polygons created from analysis of negative vertical gravity tensor (Tzz) anomalies separate the cave systems into tiered risk areas. Initial analysis reveals risk at both pads where losses occurred. Extending the analysis to the entire survey, the drilling events in the drilled offset wells match with the risk interpreted for karst. FTG data and subsequent interpretation offer strong correlation to known shallow hazards and cave systems, making it a useful tool for risk assessment. It recommended to locate future drill pads in the identified moderate risk areas and that any new wells be located away from elevated risk areas. This is the first application of FTG to classify drilling risk of karst features in the Permian basin. The FTG hazard map improves operational integrity of surface location selection and is a complement to surface topography and geology considerations. The FTG data and analysis also holds promise for fault mapping and for water drilling efforts.

Real Time monitoring centers had focused on risk management, historic data review, trend analysis and wellbore stability awareness. In this abstract the transformation of a Drilling Real Time Monitoring Center is described, identifying new processes which, with no additional resources, developed a supplementary branch of real time monitoring: drilling performance optimization. The usage of daily received data and the potentiation of the RT Monitoring Software allowed to identify Removable Lost Time (RLT), optimizing drilling crews tripping time and connection times. A concerted effort to measure rigs suppliers through unified KPIs and daily performance reports which fomented competence and performance improvement. This step change delivered an OIC: Operations Integration Center which overhauled Mexico Land Drilling Performance creating a step change in daily operations with direct benefits to oilfield real time practices.