ABSTRACT:

Value-added is a term often overused, misunderstood and viewed with scepticism by the operators. One of the reasons is that the value-added notion has been associated with services and products that promise value but fail to prove it. For drilling operations, valueadded is defined as operational cost savings achieved by the operator as a result of a solution proposed by the service company. This paper quantifies the value-added element obtained in a UK, North Sea case. Proactive engagement of the service supplier personnel during initial testing and well commissioning phases ensured that an optimum waste disposal solution was attained despite initial setbacks. An integrated services approach was initiated based on cooperation between the operator and service provider. The right technology - Cuttings Re-Injection - was employed successfully after a geomechanical study showed the feasibility to conduct a safe and cost effective injection into the chosen formation. The process continued through drilling operations, reducing the operator environmental liability, and obtaining major drilling cost savings. As of today, more than 72,000 bbl of drilling waste has been injected in a relatively short-time period. The value-added by drilling waste injection (DWI) operations in this field was estimated at US $2 million. Strict environmental regulations in the North Sea require safe and responsible disposal of the drilling waste. This gives the operator no choice but to select the innovative people, specific process and the right technology for its benefits in terms of Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) indicators and cost efficiency

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