A New Approach to Deepwater Drilling Data Analysis Offers Enhanced Real Time Capabilities in a Post Macondo World

Abstract

Abstract Deepwater drilling activity in the Gulf of Mexico is no longer a given in the aftermath of the BP Macondo blowout. The new and ever evolving process to apply for drilling permits and operate now greatly depends on: Optimal well designs certified for accuracy by Professional Engineers Thorough real-time monitoring of pertinent surface and down-hole data, and Deployment of new joint industry well capping and spill containment equipment for response to a blowout. This paper makes no attempt to address the topics in items 1 and 3. In regard to item 2, a new method for loading and analyzing live time and depth data has shown merit during recent 2010 trials on two deepwater wells, one offshore eastern Canada and the other offshore west of the Shetland Islands. Rapid data access and standardized visualization of high resolution time, depth, and survey data is vital to insure that the occasional well control event doesn't become today's worldwide news headline. Deepwater drilling management demands a highly trained staff with timely access to data in a format easily used by the key decision makers wherever they are. After the BP Macondo blowout, the news frenzy and blame game quickly showed the entire world that all operators may not be truly partnered with their rig and service suppliers in cooperative efforts to safely drill and complete the high rate wells which have historically made the deepwater Gulf of Mexico an attractive area to explore. After the blowout, the gathering of high quality data from remote real time data centers was quickly elevated to critical status for use in the government's investigation. High quality data collection and interpretation should always be managed with utmost attention to detail in light of the inherent risks of deepwater drilling and the fact that the industry simply cannot afford another incident. After a major disaster in any business sector, new technology is always promoted as a key ingredient to avoid and manage any future accident. The oil industry must now meet the challenge of proving to the regulators charged with enforcement that our organizations have the capability for creating exacting pre-drill well plans, managing and prudently using real-time information. and responsibly responding to any well control event up to and including a blowout.