-
The industry’s commitment to improve drilling efficiency and reduce operational costs is in full gear, yielding positive results, because of the new alignment and focus on cycle-time improvement. Holistic methodologies and solutions needed for this endeavor pose several questions that must be answered because clearer and complete pictures must be drawn for all challen… -
Well construction must always be executed safely at reduced operational costs, while ensuring appropriate wellbore quality and placement, per asset team requirements. Consequently, analysis of drilling efficiency, a critical performance indicator, has moved from maximizing rate of penetration to improving cycle time.
-
Achieving and sustaining performance drilling’s intended benefits—improved drilling efficiency with minimal downhole tool failures and the associated reductions in project cycle time and operational costs—requires new protocols in drilling-system analysis.
-
Development of effective solutions must start with appropriate characterization and identification of the specific modes of vibration.
-
Recent research shows that, in addition to hardness, other rock properties, such as lithology types, heterogeneity, and abrasiveness, have equal importance in bit evaluations. Consequently, the discussion must move from rock-strength analysis to rock-drillability analysis.
-
Bottomhole assemblies (BHAs), as part of the drilling system, have dominating effects on the functionality and effectiveness of other system components. BHA design, usage, and monitoring must promote drilling-system compatibility, efficiency, and reliability.
-
Rotary-steerable tools (RSTs) are now deemed mainstays in the drilling community.
