Abstract
The ability to optimize drilling procedures and economics involves simulation to understand the effects operational parameters and equipment design have on the ROP. An analysis applying drilling performance modeling to optimize drilling operations has been conducted to address this issue. This study shows how optimum operational parameters and equipment can be predicted by simulating drilling operations of preexisting wells in a Northwest Louisiana field. Reference well data was gathered and processed to predict the “drillability” of the formations encountered by inverting bit specific ROP models to solve for rock strength. The output data generated for the reference well was formatted to simulate upcoming wells. A comparative analysis was conducted between the predicted results and the actual results to show the accuracy of the simulation. A significant higher accuracy is shown between the simulated and actual drilling results. Once simulations were validated, optimum drilling parameters and equipment specifications were found by varying different combinations of weight on bit (WOB), rotary speed (RPM), hydraulics, and bit specifications until the highest drilling rate is achieved for each well. A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the optimized results was conducted to assess the potential operational and economic benefits on drilling operations.
Highlights
As companies continue to expand their drilling operations within existing oil and gas fields across the world, now is the time to maximize profitability by optimizing drilling operations to reduce the associated costs
In order to optimize upcoming wells it is important to understand (1) problems encountered during previously drilled wells in the same field, (2) the effects drilling parameters and equipment specifications have on drilling performance, (3) methods of determining the formation strength or “drillability” encountered in the wellbore, and (4) the applications of drilling optimizer in simulating upcoming wells
This approach was applied to a well-developed field located in Northwest Louisiana where nonproductive time (NPT) and unnecessary costs occurred due to insufficient operational parameters and equipment specifications implemented in the drilling process
Summary
As companies continue to expand their drilling operations within existing oil and gas fields across the world, now is the time to maximize profitability by optimizing drilling operations to reduce the associated costs. Increasing drilling performance and minimizing costs in any drilling operation begin with an accurate understanding of the lithological characteristics encountered in the wellbore, more importantly the formation rock strength or “drillability” [1]. The key factor of these ROP models is based off of the strength of the formations encountered during drilling While these models are applied to predict the ROP based off of bit design/specifications, operational parameters, and Journal of Petroleum Engineering. Optimizer generates an Apparent Rock Strength Log (ARSL) of the rock “drillability” for every foot of the wellbore by utilizing data from an offset well [9] This ARSL can be used to simulate and optimize upcoming wells within the same field by showing the effects changing operational parameters and equipment designs can have on the overall drilling performance[7, 8]. As more wells in the same field are added in the optimizer for reference, the accuracy of the simulations produced will continue to increase
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