Integration of Formation Evaluation Data Overcomes Offshore Coring Challenges

A well was drilled into a prospective unconventional mudstone play offshore Norway. Two of five coring runs were successful while the rest yielded little to no core recovery. Subsequent investigation of the core substantiated that the coring issues largely had natural causes. This understanding is being applied to two imminent coring operations and has driven selection of drilling, coring, and wireline technology and procedures and is informing casing design.

Introduction

The Valhall field is in Block 2/8 of the Norwegian North Sea.