The Role of Well Control Training in Developing Safe Onshore and Offshore Oil Drilling Operations

Oil drilling and extraction platforms are currently being used in many offshore areas around the world. Whilst those operating in shallow seas are secured to the seabed, for deeper water operations, Dynamic Positioning (DP) is essential for the platforms to maintain their position within a safe zone. Operating DP requires intelligent and reliable control systems. Nearly all DP accidents have been caused by a combination of technical and human failures; however, according to the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) DP Incidents Analysis, DP control and thruster system failures have been the leading causes of incidents over the last ten years. This paper will investigate potential operational improvements for DP system accuracy by adding a Predictive Neural Network (PNN) control algorithm in the thruster allocation along with a nonlinear Proportional Integral derivative (PID) motion control system. A DP system’s performance on a drilling platform in oil and gas deep-water fields and subject to real weather conditions is simulated with these advanced control methods. The techniques are developed for enhancing the safety and reliability of DP operations to improve the positioning accuracy, which may allow faster response to a critical situation during DP drilling operations. The semisubmersible drilling platform’s simulation results using the PNN strategy show improved control of the platform’s positioning.

Download Full-text

Utilization of Eco-Friendly Waste Generated Nanomaterials in Water-Based Drilling Fluids; State of the Art Review

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma14154171 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (15) ◽

pp. 4171

Author(s):

Rabia Ikram ◽

Badrul Mohamed Jan ◽

Akhmal Sidek ◽

George Kenanakis

Keyword(s):

State Of The Art ◽

Superior Performance ◽

Future Research ◽

Drilling Fluids ◽

Drill Cuttings ◽

Environmental Friendly ◽

Water Based ◽

Drilling Operations ◽

Filtration Properties

An important aspect of hydrocarbon drilling is the usage of drilling fluids, which remove drill cuttings and stabilize the wellbore to provide better filtration. To stabilize these properties, several additives are used in drilling fluids that provide satisfactory rheological and filtration properties. However, commonly used additives are environmentally hazardous; when drilling fluids are disposed after drilling operations, they are discarded with the drill cuttings and additives into water sources and causes unwanted pollution. Therefore, these additives should be substituted with additives that are environmental friendly and provide superior performance. In this regard, biodegradable additives are required for future research. This review investigates the role of various bio-wastes as potential additives to be used in water-based drilling fluids. Furthermore, utilization of these waste-derived nanomaterials is summarized for rheology and lubricity tests. Finally, sufficient rheological and filtration examinations were carried out on water-based drilling fluids to evaluate the effect of wastes as additives on the performance of drilling fluids.

Download Full-text

Modeling of Multi-Agent System for Drilling Simulation

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.383-390.1555 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 383-390 ◽

pp. 1555-1561

Author(s):

Wu Li Wang ◽

Yan Jiang Wang

Keyword(s):

Simulation System ◽

Drilling Process ◽

Multi Agent System ◽

Agent System ◽

Oil Drilling ◽

Well Control ◽

Existing Problems ◽

System A ◽

Multi Agent ◽

Drilling Simulation

In view of the characteristics of the oil drilling process and the existing problems of traditional simulation system, a new distributed drilling simulation model was established based on Multi-Agent system (MAS) technology. By means of autonomous, cooperative and reactive characteristic of Agent, the drilling laws and phenomenon can be reflected promptly and accurately under any circumstances. The MAS modeling for oil drilling simulation, the structure and knowledge representation of each Agent and the communication among Agents are described in detail. Finally, an Agent-based normal drilling well control simulation training example was given. The simulation results show that the simulator based on Multi-Agent system has better performances than traditional drilling simulators, and enhances the integrated training function of the drilling simulation system.

Download Full-text

Challenging Catenary Coiled Tubing Thru Tubing Screen Deployment Operation Offshore Borneo

10.2118/204419-ms ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Seng Wei Jong ◽

Yee Tzen Yong ◽

Yusri Azizan ◽

Richard Hampson ◽

Rudzaifi Adizamri Hj Abd Rani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oil Wells ◽

Well Control ◽

Coiled Tubing ◽

Open Hole ◽

Catenary System ◽

Offshore Oil ◽

Gravel Pack ◽

Emergency Measures

Abstract Production decline caused by sand ingress was observed on 2 offshore oil wells in Brunei waters. Both wells were completed with a sub-horizontal openhole gravel pack and were subsequently shut in as the produced sand would likely cause damage to the surface facilities. In an offshore environment with limited workspace, crane capacity and wells with low reservoir pressures, it was decided to intervene the wells using a catenary coiled tubing (CT) vessel. The intervention required was to clean out the sand build up in the wells and install thru-tubing (TT) sand screens along the entire gravel packed screen section. Nitrified clean out was necessary due to low reservoir pressures while using a specialized jetting nozzle to optimize turbulence and lift along the deviated section. In addition, a knockout pot was utilized to filter and accommodate the large quantity of sand returned. The long sections of screens required could not be accommodated inside the PCE stack resulting in the need for the operation to be conducted as an open hole deployment using nippleless plug and fluid weight as well control barrier. A portable modular crane was also installed to assist the deployment of long screen sections prior to RIH with CT. Further challenges that needed to be addressed were the emergency measures. As the operation was to be conducted using the catenary system, the requirement for an emergency disconnect between the vessel and platform during the long cleanout operations and open hole deployment needed to be considered as a necessary contingency. Additional shear seal BOPs, and emergency deployment bars were also prepared to ensure that the operation could be conducted safely and successfully.

Download Full-text

The Role of the Supplier of Production Chemicals in Managing the Environmental Impact of Produced Water in Offshore Oil and Gas Production

Produced Water 2 ◽

10.1007/978-1-4613-0379-4_26 ◽

1996 ◽

pp. 289-294

Author(s):

Albert Bos

Keyword(s):

Environmental Impact ◽

Oil And Gas ◽

Produced Water ◽

Gas Production ◽

Oil And Gas Production ◽

Offshore Oil And Gas ◽

Offshore Oil

Download Full-text

Heavy metals contribution of non-aqueous fluids used in offshore oil drilling

Fuel ◽

10.1016/j.fuel.2004.08.002 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 84 (1) ◽

pp. 53-61 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Dirce Pozebon ◽

Eder C. Lima ◽

Sandra M. Maia ◽

Jandyra M.G. Fachel

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Oil Drilling ◽

Offshore Oil

Download Full-text

Impact of Data Quality on Well Operations: Case Study of Work-over Operations

10.2118/afrc-2556845-ms ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Alfred Enyekwe ◽

Osahon Urubusi ◽

Raufu Yekini ◽

Iorkam Azoom ◽

Oloruntoba Isehunwa

Keyword(s):

Data Quality ◽

Data Management ◽

Real Time ◽

Data Management System ◽

Quality Data ◽

Process Safety ◽

Well Control ◽

Drilling Operations ◽

Short Time

ABSTRACT Significant emphasis on data quality is placed on real-time drilling data for the optimization of drilling operations and on logging data for quality lithological and petrophysical description of a field. This is evidenced by huge sums spent on real time MWD/LWD tools, broadband services, wireline logging tools, etc. However, a lot more needs to be done to harness quality data for future workover and or abandonment operations where data being relied on is data that must have been entered decades ago and costs and time spent are critically linked to already known and certified information. In some cases, data relied on has been migrated across different data management platforms, during which relevant data might have been lost, mis-interpreted or mis-placed. Another common cause of wrong data is improperly documented well intervention operations which have been done in such a short time, that there is no pressure to document the operation properly. This leads to confusion over simple issues such as what depth a plug was set, or what junk was left in hole. The relative lack of emphasis on this type of data quality has led to high costs of workover and abandonment operations. In some cases, well control incidents and process safety incidents have arisen. This paper looks at over 20 workover operations carried out in a span of 10 years. An analysis is done on the wells’ original timeline of operation. The data management system is generally analyzed and a categorization of issues experienced during the workover operations is outlined. Bottlenecks in data management are defined and solutions currently being implemented to manage these problems are listed as recommended good practices.

Download Full-text