Drilling Campaign of a Marginal Oilfield Set New Records in Bohai Bay with Technology and Management Innovations

Abstract

After 40 years of development, the number of high-quality reserves in Bohai Oilfield has gradually reduced. Moreover, Bohai Oilfield aims to achieve a target production of 40 million tons by 2025, and marginal oil fields have been the main force in increasing production, one representative oil zone has been selected for pilot drilling campaign. In terms of technology, considering that the target oilfield is located near the ecological red line area, drilling and completion wastes are not allowed to be discharged into the sea. The vertical depth and distribution span of the target points are shallow, it is necessary to use extended reach wells for development. In terms of management, in order to improve quality and efficiency, a large team operation concept of "One team, One goal" has been proposed, and precise reward and punishment mechanisms have been established to stimulate the work enthusiasm of both oil and service companies. Through the integration of engineering and geology, pre drilling risk identification and post drilling optimization improvement methods have been achieved. Consequently, integrated model for drilling and completion wastes disposal including efficient closed cuttings recycling and transmission technology, slim well profile, reusable drilling and completion fluid have been proposed to operation in ecological zone. The shallow extended reach drilling with max horizontal displacement to vertical depth has reached 4.03, and one-bit trip with positive drive motor has been realized with friction reduction tools. In this drilling campaign, 13 new technologies have been firstly applied and over 30 golden new ideas for improving efficiency have been proposed. With the help of technology and management innovation, this campaign has gained a great success, the efficiency of 23 wells has been increased by 42.94% while the cost has saved by 25%, and no HSE event occur, which can provide a model for similar marginal oilfield.