The past decade has given rise to deepwater wells in Malaysia as exploration began to outreach deepwater geological targets. Major discoveries with significant amounts of oil and gas reserves have been made. However, this environment is known for hazardous subsurface conditions that pose numerous challenges to drilling operations. Hence, accurate well planning is essential in this environment. This paper describes the role of collaborative well planning (CWP) for the successful delivery of complex overpressured deepwater exploration side-tracks and discusses planning and well monitoring for B-3 ST1, an appraisal well offshore Sabah, Malaysia. The well was drilled to evaluate the presence of oil in a gas block discovered by the previous two (2) offset wells. These offset wells were drilled into overpressured zone with a myriad of wellbore issues, such as stuck pipes, losses, kicks, and running out of the drilling window, which finally led to early total depth (TD). Despite such issues, the well was intended to be a fast-track well, planned for less than two (2) months instead of the normal lead time of 12 to 18 months. The fast-track nature of the well requires meticulous designed well planning due to its hazardous nature and extremely condensed time frame. The CWP model and technology employed from PETRONAS Real Time Visualization Center (PRTVC) were used for Well B-3 ST1 to meet the objectives. The model combines all stakeholders from various departments into the decision room, while the technology helps display and collaboratively analyses all available data. Geological, well design and surface and subsurface hazards were carefully considered. The result was the primary well location, and six (6) geological side-track scenarios were accomplished in just one day. It is also worth noting that this CWP concept is the first of its kind applied in Malaysia. The CWP was used again during drilling wherein a multidisciplinary team was again gathered to monitor the well around the clock, which resulted in quick and well-informed decision making. Well B-3 was drilled with one successful cased hole sidetrack to geological target objectives without operation problems. The success has made B-3 ST1 a trendsetter in terms of efficient and safe deepwater drilling planning and operation.

This paper highlights the phenomenal achievement of a Malaysian operator's first fast track drilling operation in a deepwater well offshore Borneo. The collaborative well planning (CWP) method fundamental to the drilling success is discussed. The discussed drilling environment is an overpressured deepwater area that has not only forced the earlier A1 and A2 to early total depth (TD) and caused abandonment of geological targets, but also contributes to numerous operational problems. Despite the challenges, operations on A3 ST-1 required significantly less operational time cost than budgeted. The difference between the previous two wells and A3 ST-1 was that, during the planning period, multidisciplinary concerns were addressed more carefully in real-time by employing CWP to unite geoscientists, drilling engineers, and other stakeholders using 3D integrated platform technology. This CWP helped the operator meet objectives for A3 ST-1, a fast track well that required only two months of drilling time, rather than the typical 12 to 18 months. It resulted in one primary well location and six geological sidetrack scenarios being accomplished in only one day. Upon the end of the operation, Well A3 was drilled with one successful cased hole sidetrack to geological target objectives without significant operational problems. A significant portion of the success can be attributed to the proper accommodation of concerns and best practices of rig usage, engineering insights, tool usage, and geological conditions during the planning process through the common software platform that can seamlessly allow collaboration of both geoscience and engineering data. The process automation only requires key drilling parameters to construct well trajectories, which was also significant in terms of shortening the planning time. This paper describes the first application of the CWP concept in offshore Borneo, which has become a trendsetter in terms of efficient and safe deepwater drilling planning and operations.