Case History AutoTrak System Triples ROP and Cuts Drilling Cost Per Meter by 50% Offshore Tunisia Baker Hughes helps operator maximize reservoir contact in difficult drilling environment Benefits Reduced the drilling cost per meter from USD 2,000 to 1,000, a 50% savings Tripled ROP from 13 ft (4m) to 39 ft (12m) per hr Optimized reservoir contact by precise steering to challenging targets Background and challenges Offshore Tunisia, Didon field Complex 3D well required to access stacked targets Highly interbedded formations, making a difficult environment for directional drilling Baker Hughes solution and results An operator drilling in the Didon field offshore Tunisia encountered difficulties with directional drilling control due to highly interbedded formations. This is a challenging environment to perform directional drilling using steerable motors because the bottomhole assembly (BHA) can hang up on ledges during steering, resulting in low gross rates of penetration (ROP), reduced wellbore positioning control, and poorer hole quality. To resolve these challenges, Baker Hughes AutoTrak™ system, integrated with Baker Hughes advanced logging-whiledrilling (LWD) technology and other systems, was deployed to drill the last six wells. Together, Baker Hughes and the operator closely monitored the operational performance of these systems. The AutoTrak system allowed more complex well trajectories to be drilled with successful reservoir navigation through very thin pay zones. ROP increased from 13 ft/hr (4 m/hr) to 39 ft/hr (12 m/hr) and reduced the drilling cost per meter from USD 2,000 to 1,000. Using the Baker Hughes aXcelerate™ higher-speed measurement-while-drilling (MWD) telemetry system allowed the acquisition of required LWD data in real time without limiting instantaneous ROP. Baker Hughes Reservoir Navigation Services enabled development of a pre-well model that could make intelligent and accurate real-time wellbore trajectory decisions based on acquired LWD data. Reservoir navigation in the AutoTrak system allowed drilling complex well trajectories through thin pay zones and accurate intersection of stacked targets in 8½-in. hole aXcelerate MWD telemetry system enabled acquisition of required LWD data in real time without limiting instantaneous ROP Reservoir Navigation Services allowed pre-well modeling for accurate real-time wellbore trajectory decisions At 4,012 ft (1,223 m), this well in the Didon campaign is the longest horizontal well drilled to date in Tunisia. horizontal drain sections allowed a significant increase in reservoir contact and positioned these wells in the highest quality reservoir zones. This increased the production performance of the wells, positively affecting total field recovery. For example, in well A, the horizontal drain section length exceeded the planned reservoir contact by approximately 60%. In well B, the horizontal drain in the top of the reservoir was optimized by drilling 656 ft (200 m) in the highestporosity upper zone. Reservoir navigation, coupled with precise automated steering control, helped avoid water contact. Baker Hughes bottomhole assemblies and custom drill bit designs were optimized to minimize stick-slip, lateral RSS drilling / Conventional 16 14 12 Conventional RSS Drilling 10 8 6 4 2 0 ROP m/hr Cost K$/m 12¼ Section ROP m/hr Cost K$/m 8½ Section The AutoTrak system tripled ROP and cut costs per meter by 50%. Coupled with Reservoir Navigation Services, it increased optimum reservoir exposure, improving production and recovery. vibration, and whirl events to improve drilling performance, borehole quality, and overall operational performance. Drill bit durability and gauge improvement were important factors in extending the use of PDC bits into challenging interbedded formation environments without compromising the bit’s efficient cutting mechanism. www.bakerhughes.com Disclaimer of Liability: This information is provided for general information purposes only and is believed to be accurate as of the date hereof; however, Baker Hughes Incorporated and its affiliates do not make any warranties or representations of any kind regarding the information and disclaim all express and implied warranties or representations to the fullest extent permissible by law, including those of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose or use, title, non-infringement, accuracy, correctness or completeness of the information provided herein. All information is furnished “as is” and without any license to distribute. The user agrees to assume all liabilities related to the use of or reliance on such information. BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED AND ITS AFFILIATES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES FROM ANY CAUSE WHATSOEVER INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ITS NEGLIGENCE. © 2012 Baker Hughes Incorporated. All rights reserved. 29854 11/2012