The Success of Steerable Ream While Drilling Technology Applied in Valhall Field-Norway

Kinn, Sigurd; Marshall, Gai-Lynn E.; Poerschke, Wilfried; Froehlich, Norbert

doi:10.2118/52880-ms

Cited by 11 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 7 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The 2000 average was subtracted from the 1999 average and multiplied by eight (8). The operator took the average 1999 drill and log cost ($1,556 M) and compared it with the average drill and log cost of the eight (8) wells in the 2000 sidetrack program ($642 M).…”

Section: Cost Savings Calculationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Operational Efficiency on Eight-Well Sidetrack Program Saves $7.3 million vs Historical Offsets in MP 299/144 GOM

Chad¹,

Mason²,

John³

2001

Proceedings of SPE/IADC Drilling Conference

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractThis paper will describe how the operator planned and drilled an eight-well sidetrack program, including one horizontal application, in Main Pass 299/144 field, Gulf of Mexico (GOM), in record time. This achievement was accomplished by improving operational efficiency (incident free) and reaching bottom hole objectives quickly, thus reducing openhole exposure and costly "flat" time. The authors will discuss changes in the BHA, including mud motors, AKO settings, steerable ream while drilling tools and roller cone bits in addition to synthetic mud systems, that allowed each sidetrack operation to successfully drill oversize (eccentric technology) hole and hit the directional targets in record time.The authors will discuss why different technologies were chosen and outline successful operations. A case study will be where a 7-5/8" steerable ream while drilling system with a 4-3/4" steel tooth pilot bit was able to build from 0° to 90° in one run, a record for the area.Finally, the authors will document, with historical offset data, how improving operational efficiency and new bit technology reduced costs by approximately US$7.3 million on the eightwell program. Analysis will include a mechanical risk index that takes into account a variety of well variables to objectively compare costs on wells drilled in GOM.

show abstract

Section: Cost Savings Calculationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Operational Efficiency on Eight-Well Sidetrack Program Saves $7.3 million vs Historical Offsets in MP 299/144 GOM

Chad¹,

Mason²,

John³

2001

Proceedings of SPE/IADC Drilling Conference

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Achieving Shoe-to-Shoe Drilling Performance in Hole-Opening Application With Rotary-Steerable Systems

Heisig

Hood

Okewunmi

et al. 2007

SPE/IADC Drilling Conference

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Detailed analysis of downhole weight-on-bit, torque, bending moment and vibration signals measured between bit and hole opener have provided clear insight into the dynamic response of hole opening BHAs in interbedded formations. Based on transmitted real-time information from an advanced downhole multi-sensor data acquisition and processing system, application-specific drilling procedures and guidelines have been developed to avoid or to identify and overcome critical dynamic situations downhole. Applying the new procedures, several hole sections in the GOM were drilled for the first time in one run from casing shoe to casing shoe. Here previous attempts had resulted in failures of the drilling equipment or even in twist-offs. The paper starts with a list of observations made with the downhole multi-sensor tool placed between bit and hole opening device. Log examples with downhole and surface drilling data demonstrate the dynamic response of hole opening BHAs. For the first time, the paper presents downhole measurements showing the changes in weight on bit versus weight on reamer when drilling interbedded formations. Again, log examples are used to document the effect of the drilling procedures that were applied to successfully resolve critical downhole situations. The paper concludes with a summary of the lessons learned in planning and executing hole opening applications with shoe to shoe performance. Introduction Driven by a variety of technical and economic reasons, more and more drilling programs include hole enlargement operations while drilling. In deepwater applications, the ability to enlarge the hole below the last casing shoe allows for tighter tolerance intermediate casings to be run. Figure 1 shows a typically deepwater casing and drilling program, where the intermediate casing strings are instrumental to reach the reservoir with an economically viable production string size. In other applications, hole opening or underreaming techniques are applied to address ECD limitations or to deal with swelling shale or salt formations. Earlier, hole enlargement operations were carried out by first drilling a pilot hole through the interval of interest and then opening it up with a second pass. Today, several enlargement options while drilling are available to eliminate the second pass: Bicenter PDC bits, eccentric reaming-whiledrilling (RWD) or concentric reaming devices1–10. In particular references 3, 9 and 10 discuss at some length the benefits and limitations of the three options for various applications with respect to dynamic stability, reliability, steerability and hole quality. Over the past years, the concentric reaming devices have gained significant market share, in particular in rotary steerable (RSS) applications. Concentric reamers include expandable arms, ribs or blocks, which are mechanically or hydraulically activated, after passing e.g. the last casing shoe8,9. All examples except one presented in this paper feature concentric reaming devices. In general, drilling with a reaming device in the bottom hole assembly (BHA) with the associated lack of stabilization in the BHA in the enlarged borehole above the reamer significantly increases the risk of the drilling operation. In particular, dangerous backward whirl situations with high lateral vibrations can develop and result in failures of BHA components, and subsequently in costly trips or even more costly fishing operations. Several deepwater projects in the GOM suffered significant cost overruns as a result of vibration problems during hole enlargement operations while drilling. In some cases in the GOM and other areas, operators decided to go back to a second run for the hole enlargement operation.

show abstract

Eccentric Tool Increases Liner Size Capacity in Challenging Salt Dome Application Allowing Longest Horizontal Well in Gulf of Suez

Billman

Brown

Zaki

2000

IADC/SPE Drilling Conference

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper describes the successful use of eccentric tools to solve a variety of complex down hole problems associated with drilling through flowing salt formations in the Gulf of Suez. The tool allows simultaneous reaming and drilling with steerable assemblies (SRWD). The SRWD technology was applied in two intervals on well A-19, East Zeit Bay Field, as insurance against hole problems caused on the previous wells by salt mobilization and saltwater flows. On well A-19, the operator had to decide either to drill with a large casing program or use the under reaming technology while still drilling an economic well. Additional problems involved drilling through large salt sections, possible saltwater flows, interbeded hard limestone/anhydrite sections and an aggressive directional wellbore design. Without SRWD technology, the operator would have to drill a well using a large hole design, which was complicated due to the platform considerations, casing inventories available, and the higher costs associated with the increases of mud volumes, and decreased penetrations rates. The operator was able to steer the 14-inch SRWD tool to keep the wellbore on track at 38 degrees to the planned casing point. The lower 12–1/4" build section was drilled from 38 degrees to 67 degrees while turning the hole from an azimuth of 108 degrees to 123 degrees with no major problems associated with the SRWD tools. The authors will discuss the optimization of the well design, the technology of the SRWD and the close cooperation between all the service companies required to help the operator drill the longest horizontal well in the Gulf of Suez without sacrificing cost per foot, and making a successful well. Introduction The East Zeit field, is located in the Gulf of Suez, Egypt, Figure 1. The company has operated the East Zeit field since 1996 and drilled two of the 19 wells (Figure 2) on the platform. The major geologic structures are the same throughout the Gulf of Suez with regards to the Kareem, Nukhul, and the Nubia formations as depicted in a generalized stratigraphic section, Figure 3. The majority of the production from the 19 wells is from the Nubia and Nukhul formations. The Kareem formation is productive in the area, but had not been drilled due to its limited economic potential near the platform. However, geological mapping indicated economic pay could be located southeast of the platform if drilled horizontally, Figure 4. Challenges The challenge was to drill a commercial horizontal well in the Kareem formation from the East Zeit A Platform starting the horizontal section 5000 ft away from the surface location. Drilling in the East Zeit area had been difficult due to platform constraints, lost circulation problems, saltwater flows, plastic formations, and hard interbeded formations. Additionally, due to the complex regional geology, the well design had to be flexible to allow for directional changes as the well was drilled. Drilling in the Gulf of Suez, Egypt presents operational challenges due to equipment availability and logistics.

show abstract

The Success of Steerable Ream While Drilling Technology Applied in Valhall Field-Norway

Cited by 11 publications

References 7 publications

Operational Efficiency on Eight-Well Sidetrack Program Saves $7.3 million vs Historical Offsets in MP 299/144 GOM

Operational Efficiency on Eight-Well Sidetrack Program Saves $7.3 million vs Historical Offsets in MP 299/144 GOM

Achieving Shoe-to-Shoe Drilling Performance in Hole-Opening Application With Rotary-Steerable Systems

Eccentric Tool Increases Liner Size Capacity in Challenging Salt Dome Application Allowing Longest Horizontal Well in Gulf of Suez

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About