Reporting and efficiency analysis in geothermal well drilling

Abstract

Effective management of geothermal well drilling requires proper collection, analysis and presentation of drilling data from the onset to the completion and testing of the well. The interpretation and evaluation of all available information regarding geology, structure, geophysics, flow paths, temperature and surface conditions are accomplished by an interdisciplinary team consisting of geologists, physicists, geochemists, reservoir scientists, and drilling engineers who work together on a common platform as opposed to each discipline developing their own ideas independently. The integrated information and data collected from actual drilling operations can then be applied in the optimization of the drilling process resulting in improvements and, consequently, better wells being drilled. The process from the correct siting and design of the well to the completion and testing of the well must be well planned with data from each stage of the well documented. All the technical and environmental aspects must be identified and addressed at the onset of the project to avoid future hitches and delays. This means all approvals must be obtained in time and all materials needed for the drilling processes available for use.

During the actual well drilling, the record of activities, the bottom hole assembly (BHA), and casing, drilling fluids and other materials, directional information and other aspects of drilling must be recorded daily. This information is used for invoicing and helps in the operation’s analysis and performance of various drilling aspects. This report gives an outline of the inputs and reports generated during the well drilling process and uses RIMDrill software, which is a rig to office drilling information system for drilling contractors (Infostat, 2012), for bookkeeping and to store and analyse well data with the aim of using the information in optimizing the drilling processes. The daily reports, according to the format of the International Drilling Contractor Association (IADC), and non-IADC report data are generated at the rig site and transferred to a central office where data is consolidated for the entire rig fleet. The program defines the major time and cost areas and provides critical information for accounting. It also supports analysis for management and for operational decision making which can significantly impact the drilling process, cost and time.