Utilization of Key Performance Indicators and Benchmarking Improves Drilling Performance for Several Operators

Abstract

There have been significant developments in the evolution of well data aggregation, storage and analytics over the past two decades. Initially, trends were captured on chart recorders and paper charts in the mud logging units, where decisions were based on the experience of the personnel at the rigsite. In general, rig operations were usually successfully completed with the technology available at the time. However, with economic downturns, increased competition, and variations in oil and gas prices, the upstream industry has become far more cost and efficiency sensitive, requiring increased focus on non-productive time (NPT), whether it is due to failures or inefficiencies in the daily operation -we refer to this as Performance Opportunity Time (POT).Through the definition of operational key performance indicators (KPI) and the introduction of intelligent software to calculate and benchmark these KPIs, POT or "flat time" on the drilling curve has been significantly reduced by critically analyzing certain work tasks at the rigsite, combined with remote services. The ability to compare the operational time breakdown for the same type of operation in near real-time across multiple rigs provides the operator with significant insight on the level of operational efficiency at each rig. In combination with remote advisory services, this provides a powerful solution to improve on operational performance This paper illustrates how operational KPI data have been analyzed and benchmarked to enable active focus on recorded POT and the subsequent positive results.