Autodrillers, Rig-Control Systems, Driller Procedures Reduce BHA Failures

This paper describes an 18-month intensive continuous improvement process between an operator, a rig contractor, and bottomhole-assembly (BHA) service providers aimed at reducing BHAs per well in two Oklahoma rigs.

December 1, 2023

Journal of Petroleum Technology

Fig. 1—Oklahoma post-run dull condition, showing wear, thermal damage, chipping, and tangential fracturing.

Reducing bottomhole-assembly (BHA) failures has been this operator’s focus in US land intermediate and lateral sections to reduce cost per foot. BHA failures can be mitigated with better autodriller processes, improved rig-control-system technology, and drilling-mechanics-based procedures. The operator, rig contractor, and BHA service providers engaged in an intensive continuous improvement process for 18 months to help two rigs in Oklahoma reduce the number of BHAs used per well. The goal was to determine how to best tune the autodriller and standardize set-point practices.

Introduction

The operator has found that rig-control systems, particularly the autodriller, can be unstable in many drilling situations.

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