Becoming an HPHT World Class Project, the Valemon experience 2012-2017

Abstract

The objective of this case study is to share essential learnings from the planning and execution of the first drilling and completion campaign in the Valemon field throughout the period of 2012-2017 with a total delivery of 17 wells. The case study will give an overview of the Valemon field, geology of the area and well design. The development of well trajectory became longer and more challenging as the geology targets moved farther away from the platform. Several major challenges and learnings were experienced during execution such as enabling one run strategy in 17-1/2" section, updating well path strategy to improve borehole stability, managing overburden gas responses in 12-1/4" section, and section target depth strategy for 12-1/4" section. Continuous learnings from sessions such as Improve Well on Paper (IWOP), Drill Well on Paper (DWOP), Subsurface Action Review (SAR), Subsurface After-Action Review (SAAR), operational procedures after action review, experience reports, and post well meetings enabled the project to reduce the time and cost per well. It took 160, 111, and 166 days respectively to complete the first three wells. The last well was delivered in 62 days. By the end of the campaign in November 2017, the Valemon project delivered four (4) extra wells compared to the original plan of thirteen (13) wells, while spending 500 million NOK-2017 (Norwegian Kroner with 2017 currency) or 60 million USD-2017 (United States Dollar with 2017 currency) less than the planned budget. Moreover, the entire drilling campaign was completed without any well control incidents.