Use of Data Center and Telecommunications in Drilling Operations and Engineering

Abstract

SPE Members Abstract This paper describes a drilling data acquisition and telemetry system that is currently in use in the U.S. Gulf Coast. The system provides for the real time monitoring of up to 20 drilling rigs. Drilling data are acquired at the rig site and transmitted into a central office onshore over microwave or satellite telemetry links. The data acquisition units are advanced computer mud logging units that are capable of recording over 200 surface parameters relating to the drilling system. The data parameters are displayed in the central data facility in real time on graphic displays. The data parameters are subsequently analyzed in the office and used for providing safer rig operations through backup providing safer rig operations through backup surveillance, improving rig management practices and for performing interpretive data processing using performing interpretive data processing using drilling engineering models. Drilling costs have been reduced by using this system. For example, the monitoring of connection times has led to a time savings of up to 1-1/2 days/month/rig. The paper will describe the processing and handling of the data in the central office facility. The cost savings thus far quantified will be explained. Introduction In the late 70's and early 1980's, Gulf of Mexico drilling costs were increasing rapidly with corresponding decreases in efficiency. Tenneco, a major Gulf of Mexico operator, made the decision to develop an extensive drilling data base to improve drilling efficiency and thereby improve- the cost effectiveness of their yearly drilling budget. The real time data system was the principle tool selected to meet this goal. Tenneco has over 124 producing platforms in federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico and operates 6-12 drilling rigs year-round. The data supplied by the real time system aids in providing a safe and efficient drilling operation in the Gulf of Mexico. The system has proven to be cost effective on a per rig basis. Data obtained from the system have been used for real time applications, office support functions, and performance evaluation. The system is capable of handling up to 20 rigs and was developed by NL Baroid Logging Systems (BLS). The initial start up of the computer system was in September 1983. APPROACH The ability to gather data from a large number of wells across the Gulf of Mexico has generated a ussable, multipurpose data base. Detailed analysis and comparisons can be performed in the areas of rig time utilization, rig performance, drilling parameters, tripping, cementing, circulation and related parameters, tripping, cementing, circulation and related rig activities. In addition, the data base provides vast information for detailed drilling studies and the verification of the models resulting from these studies. Acquiring drilling data at the Well site can be done through many different methods.' For this real time system, it was decided to utilize available computerized manned mud lodging units, thereby negating the need to develop a new drilling data gathering system. Microwave communications are typically used to transmit data from the rig to a Central Site Data Center (CSDC) for processing, storage, and display. The CSDC is located in Tenneco's Offshore Division office in Lafayette, Louisiana. The data are displayed on printouts, plots, CRT, displays and graphics for use by plots, CRT, displays and graphics for use by drilling engineers and geologists. An example of how data is transferred is shown in Figure 1. Data is initially obtained at the rig through various drilling sensors. The sensor reading is transmitted via an electrical signal to the computerized mud logging unit. Currently, eight mud logging vendors have adapted their software to interface with the real time system. The current system transmits up to 352 parameters every 15 seconds on a 24 hour/day basis. Some of the commonly used drilling parameters are shown in Figure 2. parameters are shown in Figure 2. Real time data can be archived on a foot by foot basis or on selected time intervals, depending on operation. Whereas in the past, drilling data recorded with the conventional mud log was normally archived on a five foot basis. The advantage of this one foot spacing is that it allows more detailed analysis of drilling trends and situations, i.e. torque, ROP, etc. P. 589

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

“…Earlier strategies have alluded to the need for rigid protocols, in part to manage the interface across companies when contract staff is dealing directly with oil company operations personnel (Graff 1986, Kaminski 2002. Having Chevron staff at the RDOC with a combination of operations, engineering and technical support experience will facilitate effective communications.…”

“…Tenneco's Central Site Data Center (CSDC) in Lafayette, as described by Graff and Varnado (1986) was one of a first generation of dedicated drilling operations centers documented by Booth (2009). After Chevron acquired Tenneco in 1988 they made a significant investment in expanding the scope of use of realtime data to support a vision of multidisciplinary integrated work processes.…”