Abstract
Poor drilling performance can lead to increased costs when enhanced drilling performance and extended reach are the main goals for oil operators. Service companies, using the latest technology, can achieve these objectives.
A rotary steerable system (RSS) with advanced motor technology provides significant performance improvements. In addition to the improved drilling performance, the advanced system enables extended reach drilling to wells that were previously beyond the limits of a project.
This paper presents the advances in motorized RSS technology and bottom-hole assembly (BHA) design considerations that provide increased drilling performance, thereby enabling faster well delivery and extended drilling. In addition, the authors examine ongoing initiatives aimed at reducing drilling risk (vibration and torque) and optimizing well placement.
The motorized RSS technology has been used in many applications, including open hole side tracking, whipstock drill-off, cement plug side tracking and horizontal section drilling. In most instances, the technology demonstrated the capacity to deliver better penetration rates and directional control that outperformed conventional directional drilling systems. Using a motorized RSS BHA to drill-off the whipstock saved rig time by eliminating one trip in each offshore oil lateral. In addition, the nearly 25.6% improved rate of penetration (ROP) was one of the main impacts for using the motorized RSS BHAs in an onshore oil field.
The paper describes the experiences from two case studies in the Middle East. The extremely long, extended drilling of a horizontal section of an offshore field, and the successful targeting of a thin reservoir while exceeding ROP targets in an onshore field.
