Digital Drilling Research Articles

Development and application of indoor digital drilling test systems

Digital drilling tests provide a new means to realise the real-time acquisition of surrounding rock parameters. In situ rock drilling can provide more reliable strength quality parameters for rocks compared with indoor experiments. Moreover, it is more capable than existing in situ rock testing methods, such as point load and cone penetration tests. This paper introduces an independently developed digital drilling test system for real triaxial rock indoors and carries out digital drilling tests of different lithological materials based on this system. The result shows that the indoor digital drilling test system has good monitoring performance and high stability in the drilling speed – steady revolution speed control mode. An active quantitative control test, a standard for constant drilling and rotation speed, is proposed, which has practical application.

Evaluating the Anisotropy of Drilling Mechanical Characteristics of Rock in the Process of Digital Drilling

Evaluating the Anisotropy of Drilling Mechanical Characteristics of Rock in the Process of Digital Drilling

IADC Code Upgrade: PDC Bit and BHA Forensics Using Rig-Based Photographic Documentation Practices

Summary This paper establishes uniform recommended industry practices for photo documentation of polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bits and bottomhole assemblies (BHAs). These recommended practices were developed by a subcommittee of the joint International Association of Drilling Contactors (IADC)/Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) industry in an effort to upgrade the IADC dull grading practices. Effective field photographic documentation and training to identify the causes of damage enables the team to modify parameters used and make other immediate changes in the BHA/drilling system with a higher degree of confidence that they will increase drill rate or extend bit life. The field documentation also provides the basis for more detailed post-drill shop grading and extensive redesign, if needed. The recommended photographic documentation consists of a specific set of photos of each blade, a top view, a side view, and views of each contact point in the BHA (i.e., kick pads, stabilizer blades, and reamers). It is common for rigsite teams to take photos of bits pulled, but these have not historically provided the detail required to distinguish one potential cause from another. There are proven changes in practices or BHA configuration that can be made to mitigate each type of dysfunction, but this cannot occur unless the cause is identified correctly. Appropriate photographic documentation, when coupled along with an understanding of the different PDC cutter and bit damage mechanisms which may occur, enables the rigsite team to identify the dysfunction and implement the changes needed. While other data sources, such as digital drilling data, should be analyzed to estimate the event timing and confirm the cause, the damage that is observed in the photographic documentation plays a critical role in directing the actual redesign effort. For example, downhole accelerometer data may indicate the presence of BHA whirl, but whether this damages the bit in a given situation is dependent on formation hardness and other factors. Whirl may not be the priority of redesign unless the photographic documentation shows a pattern of damage that is known to be specifically due to BHA whirl. These photographic documentation practices were developed specifically to support drilling forensics. The guidelines were compiled from the practices of multiple operators, bit manufacturers, and service companies with significant experience in utilizing similar photographic documentation to support timely rigsite decisions. The photographic documentation is not complex and experience has shown that within a short period of training and daily discussions, the collection of high-quality photos becomes a routine, sustainable practice. To obtain the greatest value from photographic documentation, operators must also develop training for field personnel in how to recognize the dysfunction that caused the damage. This document is intended to both standardize field photographic documentation practices and provide training material appropriate for field personnel on how to suitably document bit and BHA components using photos.

An Intelligent Advanced Classification Method for Tunnel-Surrounding Rock Mass Based on the Particle Swarm Optimization Least Squares Support Vector Machine

The fast and accurate classification of surrounding rock mass is the basis for tunnel design and construction and has significant value in engineering applications. Therefore, this paper proposes a method for classifying and predicting surrounding rock mass based on particle swarm optimization (PSO)–least squares support vector machine (LSSVM). The premise of the research is that the data acquired from digital drilling technology are divided into a training group and a test group; the training group continuously optimizes the algorithm for the particle swarm optimization least squares support vector machine, and then the test group is used for verification. Moreover, the fast searching abilities of the particle swarm significantly accelerate the computational power and computational accuracy of the least squares support vector machine, making it a high-speed analog search tool. Taking the Jiaozhou Bay undersea tunnel in China as an example, a comparison of the evaluation results of PSO-LSSVM and QGA-RBF (quantum genetic algorithm-radical basis function neural network) is undertaken. The results show that PSO-LSSVM matches well with the field-measured surrounding rock grade. Applying the method in an engineering context proves that it has good self-learning abilities, even when the sample size is small and the prediction accuracy is high; as such, it meets the engineering requirements. The technique has the advantages of small sample prediction, pattern recognition, and nonlinear prediction.

Ductile-brittle failure transition of rocks in process of drilling with high confining pressure: Model and experiment

When drilling with high ground stress in petroleum drilling engineering, understanding the ductile–brittle failure transition of rocks is crucial for improving drilling efficiency. Herein, a criterion is established to determine the depth of cut for the ductile–brittle failure transition of rocks when drilling with high confining pressure. Digital drilling experiments are carried out on six kinds of rock under different confining pressures. The effect of confining pressure on the ductile–brittle failure transition is studied. The research results show that ductile failure of rock occurs when the depth of cut is shallow, and the mechanical specific energy (MSE) decreases slightly with the increase of depth of cut. As the depth of cut increases beyond the critical depth for ductile–brittle failure transition, the rock-failure mode changes from ductile to brittle failure. The decrease of MSE becomes larger as the depth of cut increases. Cutting force, thrust force, cutting point and MSE are linearly positively correlated with confining pressure; critical depth of cut is linearly negatively correlated with confining pressure. The work in this paper provides a fast and simple method for predicting the critical depth of cut for rock ductile–brittle failure transition under high confining pressure.

Research on Drilling Test of Grouting Rock Mass Based on Cutting Strength

Grouting is an effective way to control the fractured surrounding rock in underground engineering. Quantitatively obtaining the strength parameters of grouting rock mass is very important for the grouting parameters rational design. Drilling tests of grouting rock masses with different water-cement ratios and particle sizes are carried out using the rock digital drilling test system. Based on the rock cutting mechanical model, the cutting strength of grouting rock is obtained. The response laws of different water-cement ratios and rock particle sizes on drilling parameters, cutting strength, and strength parameters are analyzed. On this basis, combined with the analysis of the relationship between grouting sandstone specimens’ strength and drilling parameters with different water cement ratios, a while-drilling testing model of grouting rock mass strength parameters based on cutting strength is established. It is a theoretical basis for quantitatively evaluating the strength of grouting surrounding rock while drilling in underground engineering.

Einsatz kombinierter Bohrverfahren zur Vorauserkundung mit digitalem Bohrdatenmanagement

AbstractThe purpose of exploration drillings in tunnelling operations is to investigate rock structure, geological composition of the rock, especially with regard to fault zones, and the identification and characterisation of water‐bearing zones. When determining the quality of exploration, the economic parameters must be taken into account. The application of combined exploration drilling methods allows the successful drilling of exploration drillings even in complex geotechnical and hydrogeological rock conditions. The concept provides the flexibility to switch between drilling systems and to realise probe measures tailored to the specific geology quickly and according to economic requirements. For successful exploration projects, documents and findings from past projects are used in the planning phase. The use of digital drilling data management offers enormous potential for optimising data evaluation. The determination of machine, equipment and the preparation of a drilling plan can thus be prepared much more specifically for the upcoming exploration. During execution, direct conclusions can be reached regarding e.g. drillability or drilling tool condition on the basis of the process‐oriented process analysis.

A Big Question for Digital Experts: What Is the Driller Trying To Do?

Digital drilling experts spend a lot of time wondering “what was the driller thinking?” They are not being sarcastic. The question matters for those doing analysis or writing control algorithms because the significance of readings, such as level of torque at any moment, depends on what the driller is doing at the time. The interpretation is different if the rig is drilling, where significant torque is required, or reaming, where the resistance is likely minimal. “During the reaming process, a spike in torque indicates something altogether different from a similar spike while drilling. So, the machine must recognize at least these two states: drilling and reaming,” said Fred Florence, a drilling consultant. He is among a group of drilling automation advocates who put rig state on a short list of issues that must be addressed to make it possible to create drilling systems where multiple devices can read and react in sync to changing drilling conditions. In other words, they want to know the information in the driller’s head now, said Moray Laing, director of digital value well construction engineering for Halliburton. That means an automated device needs to know what the driller is doing and also be aware of concerns that could require quick reactions. “Unless we can give it the same situational awareness of a human, it will not be able to manage the complexity of the process,” said Darryl Fett, Total’s manager of research drilling and wells in Houston. Rig state differences also plague those trying to analyze drilling data who need to know what else was going on at the time. They struggle with multiwell data where different methods of calculating the rig state were used. Drillers leave a record of their work in drilling logs. But this after-the-fact report typically lacks the precise timing sought by digital analysts using high-frequency data to analyze events that can happen suddenly. “A data scientist working on drilling will tell you that one of their biggest pains is someone will ask them to build a model on lost circulation and here is some data,” Laing said. That analysis is not possible unless someone can offer details about when the fluid losses began, how long they lasted, and other bits of context that might matter, such as the drilling fluid properties at the time. When asked for a basic explanation of the rig state, Crispin Chatar, drilling subject matter expert for Schlumberger, compared it to bringing a car that has been overheating to the shop. The mechanic will ask what was happening when the trouble began. Did the trouble start while driving fast on a freeway? While stuck in traffic? Did it happen after the radiator fluid warning light went on? “Every single engineer who works in drilling optimization, drilling analytics, or any one of our remote operation centers uses rig state to quickly and clearly understand what is going on at the well-site in terms of drilling operations or what the system might be seeing downhole,” Chatar said.

Evaluation of Rock Abrasiveness Based on a Digital Drilling Test

Abstract The accurate evaluation of rock abrasiveness is the basis for the cutting tool design of tunnel boring machines and efficient tunneling. However, the conventional test method is complicated and costly, and in situ measurement cannot be obtained easily. A new digital drilling test system was developed to assess rock abrasiveness in which drilling parameters, including the thrust on bit, rotational speed, torque, and drilling displacement, can be simultaneously collected. Based on the force analysis of the drill bit and the energy conservation law, the energy dissipation per unit volume of drilling or modified specific energy was proposed as an evaluation index, and the quantitative relationship between the index and rock abrasiveness was explored and verified. The results showed that the average difference rate between the Cerchar abrasiveness indexes obtained from the digital drilling test and Cerchar test was less than 15 %, thus proving the effectiveness and feasibility of this method for evaluating rock abrasiveness. The method is easy to implement and has few requirements for sample preparation. It can also be used for the in situ testing of rock abrasiveness in engineering sites.

In-situ digital profiling of soil to rock strength from drilling process monitoring of 200 m deep drillhole in loess ground

Digital drilling process monitoring (DPM) technique is an in-situ technique that continuously records the digital data of drilling process parameters in real time. These parameters in real time series are associated with the drilling and operation process of a drilling machine being used to drill a hole in the soil and rock ground for exploration and/or production. This paper presents the results and analyses of the digital DPM data along a 200 m deep drillhole and presents the in-situ profile of ground soil to rock strength in the loess tableland of Weihe Plain, Xi'an, P.R. China. The digital data in real time series is recorded with DPM on site when an ordinary hydraulic rotary drilling machine is drilling the ground for geological exploration. The original DPM data in time series is divided into different sub-sets for differentiating the net drilling process and other drilling operations. The sub-set data of the net drilling process is used to construct the variation curve of the drill bit depth with the net drilling time. This curve is further used to identify the different zones with linear variations of constant gradients (i.e., constant drilling speeds) along the hole depth in association with the drilling force-power parameters. They are used to evaluate the in-situ strength profile of the ground soil and rock strata. Three ground strata of loess, gravelly silt and silty clay are encountered and evaluated along the 200 m drillhole. The in-situ strength profile in terms of constant drilling speed has 17 zones and 75 sub-zones, which shows the depth variation of the homogeneous soil and rock layers. The constant drilling speeds are further compared with laboratory test results of deformation moduli and bearing capacity of the soil and rock core samples, as well as the drilling speeds of other types of soils and rocks. The results and findings of this paper demonstrate that digital DPM technique and data in time series can upgrade the current drilling practice to become an in-situ testing tool of soil and rock strength profile in ground.

Investigation on the relationship among the Cerchar abrasivity index, drilling parameters and physical and mechanical properties of the rock

Rock abrasivity is an important factor that affects tool wear and tool parameter design, construction efficiency, and cost budgeting during rock excavation. The Cerchar abrasivity index (CAI) is used as a standard parameter to characterize the abrasiveness of rocks. It can be obtained through the Cerchar abrasivity test in a laboratory. However, conventional laboratory Cerchar abrasivity tests and petrophysical and mechanical tests are associated with certain problems, such as long cycles, high costs, and measurement delays, which cannot serve the determination of rock abrasiveness in field. Digital drilling technology is an efficient in situ test method that can effectively link drilling parameters with rock properties. Based on the test results for the CAI and physical and mechanical properties of 13 groups of rock samples collected from southwestern China, this paper focuses on the correlations of the CAI value with rock strength, petrographic characteristics and drilling parameters. By adopting a flat bottom diamond bit that mainly relies on grinding, according to the principle of mechanical balance and energy conservation during rock drilling, the grinding energy per unit volume of rock (ηe) is defined and derived. The univariate regression analysis results show that the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and equivalent quartz content (EQC) are the most important factors for explaining CAI and that the CAI can be well estimated using the ηe. Additionally, two optimal regression models for predicting CAI were established using stepwise multiple regression analysis. UCS and ηe were introduced into the model, and the use of both can predict approximately 96% of the variance in the CAI. In addition, a performance evaluation of the models proposed in this paper and previously published CAI prediction models that the prediction models established in this paper are verify statistically more reasonable and reliable than the previously proposed models. The research methods and results provide a new method for the rapid and accurate determination of rock abrasiveness in engineering field.

Implementation of an Intelligent Drilling Automation System in the Middle East

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Judy Feder, contains highlights of paper SPE 203251, “Drilling in the Digital Age: Harnessing Intelligent Automation To Deliver Superior Well-Construction Performance in a Major Middle Eastern Gas Field,” by Brennan Goodkey, Gerardo Hernandez, and Andres Nunez, Schlumberger, et al., prepared for the 2020 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi, held virtually from 9-12 November. The paper has not been peer reviewed. While breakthroughs in digital technology have rewarded many industries with a step change in productivity and efficiency during the past decade, the drilling industry has yet to benefit on a large scale from these advances. The complete paper details the introduction of a drilling automation system (DAS) to deliver superior well-construction performance in a major gas field in the Middle East. The DAS was deployed on two onshore gas drilling rigs. The paper discusses the technology itself, the deployment process, implementation challenges, the agile development model, and the results achieved. Introduction In 2018, Schlumberger partnered with a major Middle Eastern national oil company on one of the world’s largest lump-sum, turnkey gas-well-delivery projects, where drilling operations had already been optimized by targeting high-impact, low-effort areas of opportunity. Drilling automation was pursued to achieve an improvement in performance, specifically to shift the technical limit and to minimize the frequency of service incidents that could cost days of nonproductive time (NPT). An in-house solution under development for some time was designed to take control of the rig’s surface equipment to automate and optimize most drilling tasks and to generate value in the following areas: Automation of drilling actions to perform exactly as planned, within the safe limits of operation, by eliminating the inconsistency of manual operation and its susceptibility to human factors Identification and mitigation of drilling dysfunctions that could lead to costly tool failures and incidents by using intelligence engines that would adapt drilling parameters continuously for best performance Technology Overview The DAS was developed as the execution component of a well-construction platform designed to link planning and execution. The planning component allowed for all well-design stakeholders to collaborate online and create the well plan simultaneously. Once prepared, the plan would be exported to the rig as a machine-interpretable digital drilling plan that the DAS could digest. With the validation of rig personnel, the DAS would then take control of a selection of drilling actions and execute exactly as instructed in the well plan. While drilling, extensive information would be collected to serve as a vehicle to drive performance when planning future wells. In the deployment summarized in the complete paper, a pilot version of the drilling automation module was deployed as a standalone product. The key objectives of design included three categories - dynamic planning, safety and resilience, and interoperability.

Relationship between rock uniaxial compressive strength and digital core drilling parameters and its forecast method

The rock uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) is the basic parameter for support designs in underground engineering. In particular, the rock UCS should be obtained rapidly for underground engineering with complex geological conditions, such as soft rock, fracture areas, and high stress, to adjust the excavation and support plan and ensure construction safety. To solve the problem of obtaining real-time rock UCS at engineering sites, a rock UCS forecast idea is proposed using digital core drilling. The digital core drilling tests and uniaxial compression tests are performed based on the developed rock mass digital drilling system. The results indicate that the drilling parameters are highly responsive to the rock UCS. Based on the cutting and fracture characteristics of the rock digital core drilling, the mechanical analysis of rock cutting provides the digital core drilling strength, and a quantitative relationship model (CDP-UCS model) for the digital core drilling parameters and rock UCS is established. Thus, the digital core drilling-based rock UCS forecast method is proposed to provide a theoretical basis for continuous and quick testing of the surrounding rock UCS.

In-situ test and bolt-grouting design evaluation method of underground engineering based on digital drilling

The reasonable design and in-time optimisation of the supporting scheme is very important for ensuring the safe control of the surrounding rock. The key steps are to conduct in-situ real-time tests and quantitative evaluation of the surrounding rock before and after being supported. In order to solve the difficult problem of in-situ testing the surrounding rock, the surrounding rock digital drilling test system (SDT system) of underground engineering is developed, and the in-situ test and bolt-grouting design evaluation method of surrounding rock in underground engineering based on digital drilling is proposed. The systematic test studies including digital drilling test, borehole inspection and coring test are conducted on typical surrounding rock of chamber in the high stress mine of China. The effectiveness of SDT system and the prediction model of rock equivalent strength based on drilling applied to on-site engineering are validated. The zoning of surrounding rock of deep chamber based on equivalent strength is obtained, which are the strength deterioration zone, strength recovery zone and original rock strength zone, respectively. Based on the results of the in-situ digital drilling test of surrounding rock, the bolt-grouting support scheme to reinforce the surrounding rock is designed and evaluated. The average equivalent strength increase rate of the fractured regions of chamber surrounding rock reinforced by bolt-grouting is 61.6%. The bolt-grouting support can effectively enhance the strength of the fractured surrounding rock and reinforce the fractured rock mass. This study provides an effective means for classifying surrounding rock based on their strengths and design optimisation of the support system.

Development and Application of a Multifunction True Triaxial Rock Drilling Test System

Abstract The real-time acquisition of the rock mass mechanical parameters and the rapid classification of the surrounding rock during the construction of an underground structure are of great value for informational construction and optimization of the parameters of the supporting structure. However, it is currently difficult to rapidly acquire rock mass mechanical parameters at construction sites. The “digital drilling rig”–based drilling test technique is an effective approach for addressing this problem. Therefore, this study develops a multifunction true triaxial rock-drilling test system (TRD system). This system can be employed to test various types of rock or fractured rock masses to determine the correlations between the drilling parameters and the rock mechanical parameters under three-dimensional confining pressure conditions. This article introduces the basic features and the composition of each component of the TRD system. Drilling tests on different types of rock specimens under various control parameter conditions are performed, and the drilling tests on sandstone specimens under different confining pressures were carried out. The test results demonstrate significant correlations between the drilling parameters and between the drilling parameters and the rock mechanical parameters during the drilling process. The drilling parameters are responsive to confining pressure. The conclusions of the correlation analysis and the stable monitoring data obtained under various test parameter conditions verify the reasonableness and effectiveness of the TRD system’s structure. This study lays the foundation for further investigations of the quantitative relationships between the drilling parameters and the rock mechanical parameters and develops a key technology that uses the drilling parameters of a “digital drilling rig” to characterize the mechanical parameters of the surrounding rock at underground construction sites.

Application of slip line theory and core drilling in the prediction of rock c-φ parameters

The cohesion c and the internal friction angle φ (hereinafter referred to as the c-φ parameters) are the basic parameters that characterise rock strength. This paper proposes a method that makes use of digital core drilling in the prediction of rock’s c-φ parameters. Based on slip line theory, this paper develops a core drilling rock cutting mechanical model and obtains the quantitative relationship between core drilling parameters and the rock c-φ parameters (CDP-cφ relation). Using the rock mass digital drilling test system developed in house, the digital core drilling of rock specimens in a laboratory setting was performed. Based on these experiments, a method that predicts rock c-φ parameters using digital core drilling parameters based on slip line theory was proposed. Additionally, c-φ parameters predictions and laboratory triaxial test values were used to compare and analyse the method. The results indicate that the difference and fluctuation of the theoretical values and the test values are small, and the reliability of CDP-cφ relation is high. The proposed method can obtain rock c-φ parameters at underground project sites accurately.

Real-Time Method of Obtaining Rock Mechanics Parameters Based on the Core Drilling Test

Abstract Accurately obtaining the mechanics parameters of the surrounding rock at an engineering site in real time is a key component of the construction process that is required to determine and adjust the support scheme in a timely manner and thus ensure construction safety. Currently, studies of the real-time measurement methods of the cohesion, c, and internal friction angle, φ, of the surrounding rock at a site are relatively limited, and the digital core drilling test technique provides a new approach for obtaining accurate rock parameters (c and φ) in real time at an underground engineering site. Based on the principle of upper bound analysis, in this article, a relationship model between the core drilling parameters and rock mechanics parameters (CDP-RMP) is established, and the rock core drilling cutting strength is obtained. An inversion method is proposed to obtain the rock parameters (c and φ). Additionally, by using the multifunctional rock digital drilling test system developed, digital core drilling tests are conducted on rock specimens with different lithologies. The results show that the inversion values for the rock parameters c and φ are essentially consistent with the results of the triaxial test, which verifies the accuracy of the CDP-RMP model and that of the inversion method for the rock parameters c and φ. A real-time method for obtaining rock mechanics parameters based on the digital core drilling test is further established. This method can conveniently obtain accurate mechanical parameters for the surrounding rock onsite in real time and provides a foundation for the timely optimization of the support scheme and the informatization construction of underground engineering.

Study on a digital drilling test–based rock uniaxial compressive strength measurement method

Real-time and accurate measurement of the uniaxial compressive strength of rock on-site is the foundation of the design optimization and digital construction of the support structure in an underground project. Currently, effective methods to obtain the rock uniaxial compressive strength Rc in real-time on-site are scarce. Digital drilling test technology provides a new opportunity to solve this problem; however, the lack of a universal relational model for the drilling parameters versus Rc constrains further development of this technology. In this study, based on developed PDC bit for probing, the Sc parameters of rock cutting strength are proposed, and the relational equation between Sc and drilling parameters is deduced. Using an in-house-developed rock drilling test system, laboratory digital drilling tests for sandstone and mortar specimens with various strengths are performed. Based on the test results, a relational equation between Rc and Sc is developed. Subsequently, a relational model for drilling parameters versus Rc (the DP-Rc model) is developed, and its effectiveness is verified. The results show that the average difference in the uniaxial compressive strength predicted by the DP-Rc model versus the Rc measured in the uniaxial test is less than 10%, which proves the effectiveness of this model. On this basis, we propose a digital drilling test–based rock uniaxial compressive strength real-time measurement method that provides the foundation for the real-time and accurate measurement of the uniaxial compressive strength of the surrounding rock in underground projects.

Energy analysis-based core drilling method for the prediction of rock uniaxial compressive strength

The uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of rock is a basic parameter in underground engineering design. The disadvantages of this commonly employed laboratory testing method are untimely testing, difficulty in performing core testing of broken rock mass and long and complicated onsite testing processes. Therefore, the development of a fast and simple in situ rock UCS testing method for field use is urgent. In this study, a multi-function digital rock drilling and testing system and a digital core bit dedicated to the system are independently developed and employed in digital drilling tests on rock specimens with different strengths. The energy analysis is performed during rock cutting to estimate the energy consumed by the drill bit to remove a unit volume of rock. Two quantitative relationship models of energy analysis-based core drilling parameters (ECD) and rock UCS (ECD-UCS models) are established in this manuscript by the methods of regression analysis and support vector machine (SVM). The predictive abilities of the two models are comparatively analysed. The results show that the mean value of relative difference between the predicted rock UCS values and the UCS values measured by the laboratory uniaxial compression test in the prediction set are 3.76 MPa and 4.30 MPa, respectively, and the standard deviations are 2.08 MPa and 4.14 MPa, respectively. The regression analysis-based ECD-UCS model has a more stable predictive ability. The energy analysis-based rock drilling method for the prediction of UCS is proposed. This method realized the quick and convenient in situ test of rock UCS.

Real-Time Analytics Improves Process Safety in a Drilling-Contractor Operations Center

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Judy Feder, contains highlights of paper OTC 28824, “Operational and Safety Improvements of Applying Real-Time Analytics in a Drilling-Contractor RTOC,” by A.L.F. Madaleno, S.L.S. Neto, L.A. dos Santos, and C.A.L. de Oliveira, QGOG Constellation, prepared for the 2018 Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, 30 April–3 May. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Copyright 2018 Offshore Technology Conference. Reproduced by permission. Digitally enabled collaboration between operators and service companies is driving significant improvements in process safety in the upstream oil and gas industry. However, drilling contractors generally have been considered only the owners of the systems that generate part of the surface drilling data and, as such, have not been engaged in the development of real-time analytics tools. The role of a real-time operations center (RTOC) with a drilling contractor is itself a new factor. This paper explains how an ultradeepwater drilling contractor is applying real-time analytics and machine learning to leverage its RTOC to improve process safety and performance. Introduction The increasing availability of digital drilling data and the emergence of reliable communication between offshore rigs and well operators’ offices enabled a proliferation of RTOCs in the 2000s, spawning a collaborative environment between well operators and service companies that enabled enhanced support and optimized use of expert resources to improve process safety and operational efficiency. Drilling contractors generally were not engaged in developing the real-time analytics tools for the RTOCs. One consequence is that the majority of RTOC software solutions are only appropriate for wellsite information transfer standard markup language (WITSML) data visualization, or they feature embedded tools for well operators and service companies focused on drilling efficiencies but the data and models they use are not accessible to the rig operators. Essential aspects of process safety and operational performance, such as procedural discipline and critical equipment health, can be addressed by drilling contractors in real time if appropriate resources are in place. The contractor’s RTOC has enhanced process safety and surveillance after moving to an approach in which drilling engineers, assisted by software developers with robust experience in real-time data analytics, began writing automated operation-identification and problem-detection algorithms. The cooperative work allowed the creation of tools adapted to the company’s needs and provided a streamlined process to implement, customize, and repair these tools over time. During the planning phase, it was agreed that initial developments should be grouped into six important dimensions that strongly influence the overall process safety and operational performance of the rig. The contractor applied real-time analytics and machine learning to identify and alert RTOC engineers of abnormal situations automatically. The detection of the abnormal situations by RTOC engineers and the comparison of the standard by which various drilling crews react to them feeds a lessons-learned data base, which, in turn, sustains the procedural advancement initiatives, ensuring continuous improvement.