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. Drilling-system components [bits, reamers, bottomhole assemblies (BHAs), drive systems, drilling parameters, and hydraulics] must be analyzed independently for their relevance on the basis of application types and project challenges. Additionally, the drilling system must undergo holistic evaluations to establish functional compatibility and drilling-parameter responses and effects, considering project objectives and key performance indicators. This comprehensive physics-based approach ensures durability and rate-of-penetration (ROP) improvements without compromising stability and downhole tool reliability.
The success of this process is strongly dependent on vibration control. Considering the different vibration modes—axial, torsional, lateral, stick/slip, and whirl—and their many dissimilar initiating and amplification factors, their sources always must be identified. Researchers have challenged the usual classification of erratic torque and revolution-rate behavior as stick/slip. BHA design and drilling-parameter ranges, considering blade spacing, can produce unfavorable tubular deformations, contact points, and side loads. This condition creates torque and revolution-rate fluctuations that have been linked to lateral vibrations. Awareness of these vibration modes, particularly their sources and intensifying conditions, ensures development of effective remediation solutions.
Improved borehole quality, with regard to tortuosity and rugosity, must always be considered as a critical requirement in performance drilling. This condition reduces borehole drag, enhances drilling-parameter transfer, and improves ROP and overall run lengths. Most importantly, it reduces vibrations, leading to improvements in downhole tool life and directional drilling performance. In addition to formation drillability effects, drilling-systems components and operational practices have strong effects on borehole quality. Consequently, this must be part of the drilling-system analysis.
The industry’s advancements at developing physics-based solutions for drilling challenges have matured. Continuing to ask questions that help us understand how and why we fail or succeed puts more wind beneath our wings to accelerate learning and reduce cycle times.
This Month's Technical Papers
Data Analytics and Physics-Based Simulation Enable Bit, Motor, and BHA Combination
Study Recognizes and Assists in Mitigation of Bottomhole Assembly Lateral Vibration Chatter
BHA-Design Approach Improves Drilling Performance and Wellbore Quality
Recommended Additional Reading
SPE 200740 Digital Twins for Well Planning and Bit-Dull-Grade Prediction by Mehrdad Gharib Shirangi, Baker Hughes, et al.
SPE 201616 Validating Bottomhole-Assembly Analysis Models With Real-Time Measurements for Improved Drilling Performance by Mark Smith, Premier Directional Drilling, et al.
IADC/SPE 199658 Simulation and Measurement of High-Frequency Torsional Oscillation (HFTO)/High-Frequency Axial Oscillation and Downhole HFTO Mitigation: Knowledge Gains Continue by Using Embedded High-Frequency Drilling Dynamics Sensors by Junichi Sugiura, Sanvean Technologies, et al.
| Graham Mensa-Wilmot, SPE, is a drilling engineering technical director at XCIDrill Technology. He has more than 30 years of experience in drilling-applications research, downhole-tool development, bottomhole-assembly design and analysis, drilling mechanics, drilling-vibrations identification and remediation, drilling-system compatibility establishment, and performance drilling improvement. Mensa-Wilmot recently served as Chevron’s MAXDRILL (Performance Drilling) project lead, having previously worked in engineering, research, and applications positions of increasing responsibility at Smith Technologies. His performance drilling experiences span across deepwater, conventional, and unconventional assets. Mensa-Wilmot serves on the SPE/IADC Drilling Conference Program Committee and the SPE Drilling and Completions Committee. He has authored several technical papers and holds several patents. Mensa-Wilmot is an SPE Distinguished Lecturer, and previously served as a drilling dynamics and performance drilling lecturer for the Petroleum Network Educational Conference series. He serves on the Technical Board of the SPE Gulf Section and is a member of the JPT Review Board. Mensa-Wilmot holds an MS degree in drilling engineering from Romania’s Petroleum and Gas University of Ploiesti and can be reached at graham@xcidrill.com. |
