Switching to Cruise Control with Next Generation Well Design Software

Abstract

Abstract Today, engineers do their well planning and design in multiple applications, requiring them to move the inputs and outputs from one place to another manually. The well targets are identified by a different team in a service provider platform tool. The trajectory is then planned using either a different vendor software. The Statement of Requirements for the well is written in a Word document. Offset well analysis means gathering data and information from software, shared drives, spreadsheets, and the people who last drilled on that asset. The rest of the well planning is completed with another legacy software, in individual modules for each aspect of design that don't integrate. Much of this is outsourced to "well services suppliers" to either do the full design or validate the internal design. The final execution document (Drilling Program) is completed in word and is typically 50-80 pages long. This is inefficient, and also allows for potential mistakes. If anything changes, all of this has to be re-worked. For example, if the pore pressure and fracture gradient (PPFG) analysis changes, there is no way to alert or notify the engineer that they need to update other parts of the well design (e.g. cementing, etc.). This creates communications challenges internally and with our third party providers. It also leads to sub-optimal well design choices due to an inability to see the full picture. The objective of this work is to more effectively leverage our past experiences to automate well design basics and deliver consistent performance. A business case was made to conduct a proof of concept (PoC) to test the ability to automate the well design process. The PoC was successfully completed with the following results: Notable time savings (at least 60%) in design process when compared to current manual process using legacy softwareIntuitive workflow & circular workflow between modulesIntegrated blowout & kill simulationsDemonstrated Automated Well DesignCompatible to integrate with existing well delivery workflow Our next generation well design software has opened up possibilities that were previously thought to be unattainable – a paradigm shift in the way we run our business.