A Survey of Application of Mechanical Specific Energy in Petroleum and Space Drilling

Abstract

The optimization of drilling operations is an ongoing necessity since the major proportion of the terrestrial hydrocarbon reservoirs has been exhausted. Furthermore, there is a growing tendency among the space exploration agencies to drill the subsurface formations of the remote planets, such as the Moon and Mars. To optimize the drilling efficiency in such complicated conditions, the mechanical specific energy (MSE) must be efficiently reduced. The available MSE models incorporate the different parameters related to the surface rig, drill bit, and the underlying rocks to estimate the MSE values. In this research, the current status of those MSE models is assessed, and their relevant assumptions, limitations, applications, and pros and cons are profoundly argued. From the current scrutiny, it was deduced that the available MSE models require more geomechanical parameters to be included in their formulations. Furthermore, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques was identified as an effective solution to incorporate such geomechanical parameters in the MSE models. Moreover, the establishment of suitable MSE models for off-Earth drilling applications was also revealed to be very urgent and essential. The performed analyses together with the comparative assessments are contributing factors for the modification and establishment of future MSE models.