SPE Drilling & Completion
Volume 26, Number 2, June 2011, pp. 303-316

SPE-134580-PA

Borehole-Quality Design and Practices To Maximize Drill-Rate Performance

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DOI  More information 10.2118/134580-PA http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/134580-PA

Citation

  • Dupriest, F.E., Elks, W.C. Jr., Ottesen, S., Pastusek, P.E., Zook, J.R., and Aphale, C.R. 2011. Borehole-Quality Design and Practices To Maximize Drill-Rate Performance. SPE Drill & Compl  26 (2): 303-316. SPE-134580-PA. doi: 10.2118/134580-PA.

Discipline Categories

  • 1.1.2 Performance Measurement, Technical Limit
  • 1.3.1 Wellbore Integrity/Geomechanics
  • 1.2.1 Bit Selection, Performance
  • 1.2.3 Torque/Drag Modeling, BHA Performance Prediction
  • 1.1.5 Risk Reduction
  • 1.2.2 Drillstring Design

Keywords

  • Performance, Fast Drill, Drill the Limit, Vibrations, Instability

Summary

In 2005, the operator implemented a workflow that ensured that drilling-performance limiters were identified, redesigned, and extended continuously. The use of mechanical-specific-energy (MSE) surveillance to address bit limiters and dysfunction has been published previously. The purpose of this paper is to discuss additional practices that have been developed to extend the nonbit performance limiters, particularly those related to borehole quality.

There have been more than 40 nonbit performance limiters identified and redesigned globally. While these are diverse, those with the greatest global impact were found to be tied directly to borehole quality. Consequently, in 2008, the performance-management workflow was modified to increase awareness of borehole quality as a performance limiter. The result was that acceptable borehole quality became defined as that which would not limit footage per day. Quality is now redesigned to the "economic limit of performance" in the given interval. The economic limit of performance is a significantly higher standard than the common industry objective for borehole quality, which is to achieve low trouble time and to run casing successfully.

The average drilling footage per day drilled by the 23 operations that have been active since the performance-management process was implemented has improved by approximately 63%. Instantaneous drill rates have typically increased 100-300%. Advances in bit and nonbit limiters appear to have contributed equally, and the majority of the gain in nonbit limiters has come from improved borehole quality. Other gains have come from related limiters, such as an increased understanding of the manner in which cuttings transport and tripping operations are controlled by borehole quality.

The paper discusses the technical models that are used to understand the major borehole limiters, the engineering design, and the real-time practices that have been developed, as well as the field results.

© 2011. Society of Petroleum Engineers

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History

  • Original manuscript received: 16 July 2010
  • Meeting paper published: 21 September 2010
  • Revised manuscript received: 3 February 2011
  • Manuscript approved: 16 February 2011
  • Published online: 26 May 2011
  • Version of record: 13 June 2011