Batch drilling in the North Sea expedites extended-reach drilling

• Published in: The Oil & gas journal Vol. 95; no. 23; pp. 52 - 57
• Main Authors: TEGGART, B.G, DUNNE, C.L, WILKINSON, R.D
• Format: Magazine Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tulsa, OK Pennwell 09.06.1997; Endeavor Business Media
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products; Downtime; Drilling; Drilling methods and equipments. Rocks mechanics. Directional and horizontal drilling; Drilling. Casing. Preparing wells for production; Efficiency; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Methods; Offshore drilling; Offshore oil wells; Oil and gas exploration; Planning; Prospecting and production of crude oil, natural gas, oil shales and tar sands; Technology; Test equipment; United Kingdom; Great Britain; North Sea; Europe; United Kingdom > UK; Drilling mud; Drilling; Offshore production; Cementing; Slant hole; Directional drilling; Casing
• ISSN: 0030-1388; 1944-9151

Batch settings of surface cast strings produced substantial efficiencies in extended reach drilling for British Gas Exploration & Production in the Armada field by reducing down time. In addition, effective hole cleaning techniques and reduction of torque and drag effects substantially improved drilling efficiencies. Lessons learned on the project will be beneficial to future operations. Batch setting allowed subsea blow out presenter to be moved from slot to slot at the end of each well, rather than pull the BOP to surface. This saved approximately 1 day per well. All batch setting operations were completed in 33 days, 18 days ahead of schedule due to the experience curve, mild weather, and time saving techniques.