Risk Mitigation and Drilling Time Reduction Practices with Optimized Wellbore Geometries Implemented in Offshore Shallow-Water Tertiary Wells in Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

Abstract Well construction operations in the Gulf of Mexico involve a high level of complexity in a high-risk environment. Although multiple operators and service companies have been drilling for decades and technology has evolved throughout this time, the wells targets become more challenging to drill and the technical level along with the economical benefit require new approaches to make projects profitable. One of the key aspects to make drilling projects successful is risk evaluation and engineering applications to deliver producing wells efficiently. The offshore fields in the Gulf of Mexico require custom wellbore architecture and drilling practices to optimize time on well delivery without compromising well integrity standards and safety. This paper describes the successful implementation of a performance enhancement process and risk mitigation strategies applied in optimized wellbore geometries in shallow-water fields in the Gulf of Mexico, for which customized de-risking engineering and drilling practices were introduced to accelerate well delivery. The subject fields in the Gulf of Mexico are considered as strategic in the development plan, in which the main drive is time optimization for early oil production, resulting in additional risk management planning.