Well Lifecycle &

Drilling Process Overview

Arun Singh Chandel- Assistant Professor
B.Tech. (Chemical Engineering)
MS (Oil and Gas Engineering), United Kingdom
aschandel@ddn.upes.ac.in
COES





So just where does Oil Come from?





















WEATHERING & EROSION
of igneous, sedimentary and
metamorphic rocks
TRANSPORT OF DEBRIS
by wind, running water, etc.., and
DEPOSITION in the sea
SUBSIDENCE
accompanied by compression and
cementation of loose sediments
FOLDING & UPLIFTING
accompanied by volcanic activity and
igneous intrusions








ERA SYSTEM AGE (approx.) millions of years
QUATERNARY Recent
Pleistocene
0
0.01
CAENOZOIC or TERTIARY Pliocene
Miocene
Oligocene
Eocene
Palaeocene
2
7
26
38
54
MESOZOIC or SECONDARY Cretaceous
Jurassic
Triassic
65
136
195
PALAEOZOIC or PRIMARY Permian
Carboniferous
Devonian
Silurian
Ordovician
Cambrian
225
280
345
395
440
500
AZOIC or ARCHAEAN Pre-Cambrian
Origin of Earth from -
570
4500
Just how long has it been there?








Oil in place










How much Oil?


Rock Matrix
Pore Space
(Porosity)
But
Pore space without
communication is
no good. We need
..
Permeability

Porosity
is expressed as a %
of pore space vs.
total rock volume









Drilling Process Overview Stage 1:
Geological Survey


Geological data is gathered and
interpreted by geophysicists and
geologists looking at where,
when, and at what depth there
could be hydrocarbons in place









Initially by using ...Seismic data

Subsurface formations are mapped
by measuring the time taken for
acoustic pulses generated in the
earth to return to the surface after
reflection or refraction from
interfaces between geological
formations with different physical
properties








Drilling Process Overview Stage 2:
Cost Estimation (AFE)


From this initial information
costs are estimated to
prepare an AFE (Application
for Expenditure) for
submission to management









Drilling Process Overview Stage 3:
Well Planning


Drilling engineers start the
process of designing the
well in conjunction with the
geologists, reservoir
engineers and well
completion specialists








Well Planning Consists of Things Like..


Rig Selection
Permits & Legislative compliance
Blow Out Prevention
Casing Design
Mud Programme
Solids Control Systems
Drill Bit Options
Directional Drilling Requirements
Logging (evaluation) Programme
Completion Requirements
HS&E (Health, Safety & Environmental) Aspects

... To name but a few...








Drilling Process Overview Stage 4:
Well Construction



The next stage is the
construction of the well
using drilling equipment
suitable for the pressure
and hazards expected











Well Types

Wildcat: Little or no previous drilling exploration activity in the area
Exploratory: Geological target selection based on seismic data, and geological
modelling i.e. no previous drilling in the prospective horizon
Appraisal: Delineates the reservoirs boundaries, usually drilled after the
exploratory discoveries
Producers: Drilling into a known reservoir
Infill: Drilling in known productive portions of the reservoir that have
not been properly drained. This is usually done later in the life of
the reservoir
Re-entry: Existing well re-entered to deepen, side-track, complete, or re-
complete








Drill Bits are used to cut / crush the rock
Roller Cone
PDC
These are made-up to heavy large diameter series
of tubes, collectively called...








... the Bottom Hole Assembly BHA
Drill Collar
Connection
Hevi-Wate Drill Pipe
Stabilizer
Drilling fluids: Mud - has to:
cool and lubricate the bit, drillstring, and to clean the bottom of
the hole
carry cuttings to surface
remove cuttings from the mud at surface minimise possible
subsequent formation damage
control formation pressures and to maintain hole integrity
assist in well logging operations
minimise corrosion of the drillstring, casing and tubing, minimise
contamination problems
minimise torque, drag and pipe sticking propensities, improve
drilling rate

Carry
Cuttings
to
Surface
Reduce
Rotational
Torque
Form
Filter
Cake
Stabilize
Formation
Lubricate
Drill Bit

Liner

Casing ... protects the newly drilled hole
Intermediate
Casing
Surface
Casing

Main functions of casing strings
Consolidate unstable formations that have just been drilled
through
Contain any pressures that may be encountered
Separate any different pressure regimes
Provide structural support for the BOPs and diverters
Protect sensitive formations from contamination
Provide a suitable environment for installation of production
or testing equipment such as packers, downhole valves,
tubing, liner hangers etc.

Packer
Production
Tubing
Production
Fluids
Casing String
Christmas
Tree
When a well has been
drilled and cased it
must now be
Completed in order
to produce the
hydrocarbons residing
in the reservoir
Completions
Modern completions

Drilling process overview Stage 5:
Well Maintenance
Once the well has been completed
and is flowing for commercial
purposes, it has to be maintained
with occasional intervention work for
replacement of worn parts e.g.
leaking down-hole safety valves, and
to gather pressure and temperature
information for reservoir
management

Produced Oil can be processed and stored ready for tankering in
Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Vessels
Or... By subsea pipelines etc...
.... Monitoring ....
Detailed reservoir models
and simulations are
constantly updated as new
development-drilling data
becomes available
enabling effective Field
Management
Drilling process overview Stage 6:
Abandonment
Abandonment - this is the stage when the reservoir is depleted
and seabed or land is returned to its natural environment

A well is abandoned when it reaches the end of its useful life or is
a dry hole.
The casing and other equipment is removed and salvaged.

Cement plugs are placed in the borehole to prevent migration of
fluids between the different formations.

The surface is reclaimed and returned to natural environment.

How an Oil Company is Generally Structured
Oil Company
(or Well operator)
Drilling Engineering Formation Evaluation Accounts Operations Reservoir Engineering Production Engineering Geology
Drilling Superintendent
Wells in Progress
How a Drilling Contractor is Generally Structured
Drilling Contractor
Accounts Rig Manager Rig Design & Maintenance
Tool Pusher Rig 1
Driller
Derrickman
Rig Crew
Tool Pusher Rig 2 (etc.
Driller
Derrickman
Rig Crew
Drilling Service companies
Drilling Service Companies
Drilling Fluids Drilling Cements
Directional Drilling Casing Running
Formation Evaluation Mud Logging
Drilling Bits Tool Rental
Well Completion Equipment Many others .....etc.
Further Reading
MIs Drilling Fluids Engineering Manual Chapter 1
Introduction
http://science.howstuffworks.com/oil-drilling.htm/printable
http://science.howstuffworks.com/oil-refining.htm/printable
http://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/Default.cfm