Page 41: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Jul/Aug 2014)

40 42

data, formation expectations, and direc- the drillstring and BHA. While surface properly chosen per application. Each improved offshore drilling techniques,

Drilling tional planning), which is the ? rst step weight values were held relatively steady tool has a speci? c purpose, and with but they will only become effective with toward using downhole technology to by using an autodriller, downhole weight the advent of real-time data telemetry the supporting mindset in the ? eld and increase performance and safety. Next, values were very unpredictable and fre- to surface, it quickly becomes apparent our willingness to trust in technology. there is the ability to create a drilling quently oscillated above 50% of set point which BHA combination is the most roadmap, which is fully optimized for values on the wells drilled (SPE). optimal. In the race to improve drilling Reference

Pink, T., Koederitz, W.L., Barrie, A.K., Bert, D., a particular region or series of wells. In addition to the driller’s ability to performance and safety, consistency is

Overgaard, D. 2013. Closed Loop Automation

When establishing a pad to drill several view downhole data, applications can winning. Sometimes less is more, and of Downhole Weight on Bit Improves Sliding wells, the operator typically drills the also be implemented that connect to both the key is ? nding the correct window

Performance and Reduces Conservatism in ? rst well using only survey information. downhole data and surface data, allow- of downhole weight, differential pres-

Unconventional Horizontal Well Development.

A drilling optimization tool (or series of ing for automated drilling. This applica- sure, and rotations per minute (RPM) by

SPE 166428-MS.

tools in various locations in the BHA or tion was activated on the surface data trusting technology and software to guide string) such as National Oilwell Varco’s acquisition system during drilling and and teach during the drilling process. A

BlackBox memory tools (Figure 1) can was able to collect downhole and surface human may be able to make a single deci- Alex Barrie is record drilling dynamics data at a high data, acting as a “smart” downhole sion before a computer, but the long-term product line cham- frequency, as it occurs. This not only pro- autodriller. This application used the alert and automated damage mitigation pion for BlackBox vides the driller with valuable post-well data streaming to surface from the NOV of a proper data acquisition system will tools at National drilling information, but also allows a BlackStream tools to calculate the most continually outperform a human in both Oilwell Varco, based drilling roadmap for the remainder of the ef? cient operating values for various speed and consistency. in Houston. He pad. This roadmap can offer previously drilling equipment, keeping the down- Because the oil and gas industry has manages the develop- unknown details about the formation, hole behavior consistent and predictable. historically lagged other industries in ment and sustainabil- reactive vibration and torque, and down- This consistency reduced the risk of tool regards to cutting-edge technology appli- ity of drilling dynamics memory tools and hole weight transfer, providing the driller failures while allowing for increased cations, there has been a growing separa- is a subject matter expert of the product with faster, more reliable performance drilling performance and vibration con- tion between the oil and gas industry and line. Previously, he worked with various going forward. sistency for the entirety of the well. Most other sectors in the race to computer- groups collecting data from real-time

High-speed data telemetry with wired importantly, this combination of tools optimized performance and safety. This automation tools, publishing and drillpipe supporting real-time downhole and software led to increased reliability separation is rapidly decreasing, thanks presenting the drilling optimization tools is at the top level of drilling opti- and safety. to the advancement of technological results to the oil and gas industry. Barrie mization. When compared to traditional

With the increase of drilling hardware oil? eld equipment. There are increasing earned a BS in mechanical engineering at mud pulse measurement-while-drilling and software competition, tools must be opportunities and growing excitement for Texas Tech University.

tools, real-time drilling data feedback can provide information to the surface at the fastest rate and highest quality possible, allowing the driller to visualize drilling reactions to the preplanned drilling road- map. This also allows for understanding of real-time energy loss based on the down- hole data versus surface data comparison.

Several wells have been drilled using

National Oilwell Varco’s BlackStream downhole drilling dynamics tools in col- laboration with IntelliServ wired drillpipe.

While similar to the BlackBox memory tools in data acquired, the BlackStream downhole tools connect to wired drillpipe for real-time telemetry. Over the course of several wells, the BlackStream tools provided an increase in both consistency and performance. An illustration of the automated drilling system and compo- nents can be seen in Figure 2, showing the downhole tool and its connection to the surface data acquisition system.

The automated drilling system has several advantages with respect to drill- ing optimization. By itself, the system allowed the driller to clearly view downhole behaviors as they occurred

Industrial Bolting Systems Advanced Tensioning Systems Hydraulic Torque Wrenches Pneumatic Multipliers while drilling. These behaviors allowed

Electric Multipliers Hands-Free Safety Time Saving Simplicity Industry-Leading Accuracy Patented Innovations the driller to measure torque transfer and multiple types of vibration that were contributing to energy loss along oedigital.com July 2014 | OE 43 040_OE0714_D&C3_NOV.indd 43 6/20/14 3:18 PM