From Fast Track to Fast Success—J4 Small Field Development Accelerates Performance Improvement Process, Northwest Bintulu, Malaysia

Abstract

Abstract J4 project was initially an 8 well small field development. Initial well designs were of 2 dimensional trajectories, a total depth of 7000 feet and a tangent angle not exceeding 60 degrees. Average well P50 drilling authorization for expenditure was calculated at 25 days. By definition of small field, the economics of the project was under management scrutiny with positive performance expected. After drilling the first J4 well and exceeding the AFE by 25% and the eventual loss of the platform slot while drilling the second well, it was apparent that a complete step change during planning and execution was required for the success of the project. For effective step change, the recently enhanced Performance Improvement Process (PIP) was used. PIP encompasses other performance enhancement methods providing the necessary tools to undertake problem solving in a methodical manner. Additionally, for PIP to be effective it was crucial to harness the experience, knowledge and uninterrupted contribution of the well-construction team. PIP was designed to complement the Core Workflow Process, a systematic method for well planning, well design, and well execution. Besides PIP measurement, the team would investigate the rate of return on investment made in the performance improvement process The J4 team was keen to highlight what level of investment in performance improvement was justified in the tight budgets of a small field development. As time was limited and the third well pending an assessment and rethink of the remaining wells by way of a structured fast track approach was essential. This would be the first time PIP would be applied to accelerate change to a project in Petronas Carigali SDN.BHD (PCSB). PIP provided the structure and format to enable the team to embark on a comprehensive examination of the geological data, update the geological model, and re-design the projects remaining wells and trajectories through to their successful execution. This paper will discuss the PIP tools, methods and practices utilized by the well construction team to successfully fast track and improve drilling performance while returning a positive return on investment for the changes made.