Automated Operations and Wired Drillpipe Benefit Arctic Drilling

Abstract

This article, written by Special Publications Editor Adam Wilson, contains highlights of paper SPE 191574, “Delivering Drilling Automation II: Novel Automation Platform and Wired Drillpipe Deployed on Arctic Drilling Operations,” by Riaz Israel, Doug McCrae, Nathan Sperry, Brad Gorham, Jacob Thompson, and Kyle Raese, BP, and Steven Pink and Andrew Coit, SPE, NOV, prepared for the 2018 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Dallas, 24–26 September. The paper has not been peer reviewed. This paper presents a case history of drilling automation system pilot deployment, including the use of wired drillpipe, on an Arctic drilling operation. Two major aspects of technology were introduced during this pilot, the first being a drilling automation software platform that allowed secure access to the rig’s drilling control system. The second component was a wired drillstring, which provides high-speed delivery of downhole data from a series of distributed downhole sensors. Introduction In an effort to enhance the safety of its operations, improve well construction efficiency, and leverage the potential opportunities presented by digitalization of drilling, the operator has initiated a Remote Operations and Intelligent Automation Project. The project involved the deployment of an automation operating system (AOS) on top of an existing drilling control system. The AOS provides the ability for secure, programmatic control of the rig’s major drilling hardware through the use of software. The software interface allows for custom configuration of several routine drilling activities for automated execution. The project also evaluated the latest version of the service company’s wired drillpipe (WDP). At the time of writing, the project has delivered eight wells, with various combinations of the technology implemented. The overall objectives of the project were to evaluate The readiness of the AOS for wider deployment The reliability of the latest version of WDP The maturity of the AOS drilling applications The effectiveness of this technology in reducing well costs For each well, key performance indicators (KPIs) were defined that aligned with the project-level KPIs and are dependent on the specific aspect of the technology being used on that well. Field Description The giant Prudhoe Bay field, on the North Slope of Alaska on the edge of the Arctic Circle, was discovered in 1968 with an initial estimate of 22 billion to 25 billion bbl of oil in place and has been in production since June 1977. Since the field began production, it has generated more than 12.5 billion bbl of oil, making it the most productive US oil field. The field has been a proving ground for advanced drilling techniques, including multilateral and coiled tubing, now used in oil fields around the globe. Production from Prudhoe Bay is supported by ongoing drilling activity. Technology Description An overview of the automation technology is presented in Fig. 1.