Digital Well Construction Environment Enables Holistic Risk Management and Optimization in Mature Field

In a mature, conventional hydrocarbon field, increasing variance in well designs is required to exploit remaining reserves. Unplanned well events cause non-productive time (NPT) in drilling operations, where root cause must be understood to tailor and implement solutions. The interpretation of offset well subsurface data is considered key in overcoming drilling challenges and for the cost-effective planning and delivery of further development wells in this environment. An integrated well construction software with holistic offset data analysis and physics modelling capabilities allows to investigate historic performance, capture key lessons learned, and improve well design for field optimization. The introduction of an innovative offset analysis functionality acted as an enabler to create situational understanding of events and implement corrective actions for new wells being planned, reducing a process that often took weeks to a few days. Enabled by effective data aggregation workflows and 2D/3D viewing techniques in multiple data domains including depth and time, an expedited understanding of well events was achieved. Offset data correlation and analysis capability was paired with physics-based drilling hydraulics modelling to resolve root causes and establish an improved risk registry. The case example discussed in this paper illustrates a focused study of well event sequences in a field, the capturing and application of learnings, achieving coherent risk management and improvements of well design and engineering. The outcomes of the analysis and planning phase can also be seamlessly leveraged in real-time monitoring and process automation steps for maximum efficiency and minimum NPT in well delivery.