Design and Implementation of a Global Solution for the Management of Real-time Drilling Data

Abstract

Chevron has a longstanding association with the use of dedicated operations centers to support drilling operations. This dates back to the pioneering work of Tenneco in the early 80's, one of a few First Generation Drilling Operations Centers (Booth, 2009). After the acquisition of Tenneco in 1988, Chevron built upon this prior experience in developing a sophisticated support center intended for use throughout Chevron's global drilling operations. As with most of the first generation centers, reduction in drilling activity changed the business case and the strategy was curtailed in 1992. More recently, in 2004, Chevron established a Well Design Execution and Collaboration Center (WellDECC) to support high-cost technically challenging deep water operations in the Gulf of Mexico.With recent and planned changes in drilling strategies, including the prospect of supporting multiple rig onshore operations both domestic and international, Chevron is embarking on an updated strategy which will institutionalize access to and use of realtime drilling data on a global basis. This includes establishing a central facility staffed by Chevron personnel and operating on a 24/7 basis to monitor the acquisition of data and its integration with technical and operational work processes. This strategy will benefit from the experience derived from the earlier efforts mentioned above. It will also take advantage of significant subsequent advances in information technology and the development and broad implementation of the WITSML industry standard for exchange of data between the multiple parties typically involved in the drilling and completion of a well. This paper describes the strategy's underlying principles and provides information on the design and implementation of an appropriate solution.