Drilling-Operations Learning
Through Visualization
Using a 3D-earth-model visualization
as a foundation, a new information-
technology (IT) development strategy
focuses on perceiving drilling learn-
ing by an intuitive method. Symbols
known as knowledge attachments
are attached to each wellbore trajec-
tory displayed in the 3D environment,
with each symbol indicating a specif-
ic event related to drilling operations.
This representation makes interde-
pendencies between the earth model
and drilling operations evident.
Introduction
E&P companies are focusing more on
Reservoir Visualization
collaborative teamwork to better evalu-
ate the economic viability and risk
involved in developing oil and gas fields.
To facilitate collaboration, E&P compa-
nies are adopting shared, integrated IT
technology to enable multidisciplinary
teams to engage in improved workflow
processes. Geoscientists traditionally
have had the benefit of powerful inte-
grated visualization tools. Such applica-
tions are characterized by excellent inte-
gration and interoperability that allow
workflow practices to be optimized.
Drilling engineers tasked with well-
bore construction typically do not use
these integrated applications. With
the advent of more powerful personal
computers and laptops, drilling engi-
neers can now access visualization
tools similar to those that geoscien-
tists have traditionally used on Unix
workstations. Coupling drilling-oper-
ation events and knowledge con-
tained within drilling information-
management systems with the earth
model is one such opportunity.
Theory and Definitions
Visualization can be defined as the
binding or mapping of data to a repre-
This article is a synopsis of paper SPE
62759, Perceiving Drilling Learning
Through Visualization, by W.C.
Sanstrom, SPE, and M.J. Hawkins,
SPE, Landmark Graphics Corp., origi-
nally presented at the 2000 IADC/SPE
Asia Pacific Drilling Technology, Kuala
Lumpur, 1113 September.
28
sentation that can be perceived.
Integration of data from different
sources in the same visualization
enables visual analysis. Visual analysis
requires that the tools for accessing and
filtering the data be integrated tightly
with the visualization environment.
When working in a team environment,
visual analysis speeds communication,
conveys subtlety, promotes creativity,
and speeds and enhances decision
making. At a high level, the data being
mapped is that of the earth model and
drilling-operation data. This visualiza-
tion system is useful to represent this
disparate data in a manner that makes
interdependencies clear. Interactive
data binding coupled with the 3D dis-
play greatly enhances the ability to ana-
lyze complex data sets and accelerate
the process of extracting information.
Human eyes have more information-
processing capability than all of the
supercomputers in the world.
System Components. A number of
data-management systems are available
for the earth model and drilling infor-
mation. A necessary component to cre-
ate a system for perceiving drilling
learning through visualization is a 3D
visualizer that integrates the two data
sources by use of knowledge attach-
ments. Knowledge attachments are
defined as symbols displayed on a well-
bore trajectory in the 3D earth model
that is bound to drilling-operations data.
The drilling-operations data are accessed
and filtered by database queries. Symbol
definition, information bound to the
knowledge attachment, and knowledge-
attachment creation must be addressed
clearly for a usable, intuitive system.
Symbol Definition. A standard set of
knowledge-attachment display symbols
are required so information can be visu-
ally correlated with certainty of what it
represents. Knowledge-attachment visu-
al appearance is dependent on the infor-
mation type to which it is bound. Both
appearance and underlying data source
of the knowledge attachment are config-
urable on a site basis. For example, a red
asterisk represents a lost-circulation
event, while a yellow circle represents a
stuck-pipe occurrence. System users
can access a standard library of symbols
and also create user-defined symbols for
unique circumstances.
Information Content. Knowledge
attachments have two levels of informa-
tion: summary and detailed. The sum-
mary view is displayed when a symbol
on the wellbore trajectory is clicked.
The display contains a free-form area
for entering pertinent comments. Well
name and knowledge-attachment depth
also are displayed in the summary.
The detailed content can be a collec-
tion of documents (files), links to Web
pages, morning reports, and database
queries. If the knowledge attachment
represents a well-control incident, the
detailed content could contain a
spreadsheet with the completed kill
sheet, a link to a well-control best-prac-
tices page on the company intranet, and
a copy of the morning report. When an
item in the detailed-content list is
selected, the appropriate application is
launched to view the information.
Knowledge-Attachment Creation.
Once a standard set of knowledge-
attachment types and symbols are
defined, the appropriate data is bound to
them. Knowledge attachments are creat-
ed manually or automatically. When cre-
ating a knowledge attachment manually,
a well, depth, and attachment type are
selected. The user provides text for the
summary and then creates links to the
appropriate detailed content. Manually
created knowledge attachments are use-
ful in the well-planning process to docu-
ment operational issues or directives.
Automatically creating knowledge
attachments facilitates drilling learning.
The key is association of the appropriate
drilling-operations data with the symbol
by use of database queries. A standard
library of knowledge-attachment defini-
tions that is independent of the well or
field can be maintained by use of gener-
ic definitions or templates. A fully
defined knowledge-attachment template
contains a symbol type and the associat-
ed database query. This library facilitates
integration and interrogation of drilling
data in the earth model by making
access to the data easy and intuitive.
JANUARY 2001
 Detailed information behind the well plan can be refined.
the template is bound to the Knowledge attachments can be
knowledge attachment when manually created to hand off
the wells or field are rendered information during a shift
in the visualization environ- change. During the postwell
ment. Identification and cor- analysis, the system can be
relation of this information used to gather lessons learned
between large numbers of and improve operational effi-
wells is virtually impossible ciency of future wells.
using traditional well files.
Conclusions
Putting Knowledge A knowledge-attachment sys-
Attachments to Work Fig. 1Knowledge attachment symbols representing tem is useful to represent dis-
Knowledge attachments can drilling events. parate data in a manner that
improve many aspects of well- makes evident the interde-
bore construction including planning, trouble time for wells in the field. In pendencies between the earth model
operations, and postwell analysis. Fig. 1, these knowledge attachments and drilling-operations data. Oper-
Early in the well-planning process, the are represented by small squares and ational issues and lessons learned from
system can be used to learn about circles. The squares positioned along prior wells are easily accessed and
issues encountered with existing wells the fault represent high torque and the perceived in the earth-model context.
in the area. New or experienced circles on the horizontal horizon rep- Operational efficiencies can be im-
drilling engineers can access the his- resent lost circulation. By clicking on a proved by understanding this in-
torical data easily and view it within knowledge attachment, the detailed formation at the beginning of the

Reservoir Visualization
the earth model. Fig. 1 shows an and summary information is dis- well-planning process. JPT
example of existing wells. If a trouble- played. The planned well can be
time template is chosen and the designed to minimize these known Please read the full-length paper for
drilling data-management system is issues. The system is useful to drilling additional detail, illustrations, and ref-
accessed, the 3D view will be populat- engineers not familiar with the area. erences. The paper from which the
ed automatically with knowledge Once drilling begins, offset well infor- synopsis has been taken has not been
attachments for all occurrences of mation can continue to be accessed and peer reviewed.

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JANUARY 2001