Delivering Record-Breaking Gross Footage with Single Slim Bottomhole Assembly

Abstract

A new field record for drilling the longest footage with a single bottomhole assembly (BHA) in a slim hole was recently achieved in the Safah field in northern Oman. A multidisciplinary team focused on digital advancements and process enhancements to improve the drilling efficiency and sustainability of the different aspects in the Safah development well construction process. The process considered the introduction of a remote operation structure comprised of directional drillers, geosteerers, and measurement engineers working together through an enhanced communication channel to improve and expedite decision making. Employing a remote operation model also helped to reduce the rigsite crew size, lower the HSE exposure in the rigsite, and enable faster deployment of new technologies. Lean geosteering processes were recommended to reduce off-bottom time and improve the penetration rate. Detailed shock and vibration analyses were conducted, exploring innovative designs and components for mitigation. An updated downhole software with a new downlink command was employed for the first time in the field, minimizing the number of downlinks and performing the downlinks on bottom for improved overall drilling efficiency and reduced the downhole vibration. This case study highlights the technology innovation, engineering solutions, sustainable remote operation structure, and the valuable learnings that led to this record-breaking achievement.