3 Ways to Use Better Data and Use Data Better for Drilling Industry | Helmerich & Payne - Drilling Rig Contractor Oil & Gas

Wellbore positioning comes with high levels of uncertainty due to error sources inherent in the surveying process. If not accounted for, these errors can result in loss of production, equipment failure, and non-productive time, leading to potential exposures and/or costly situations. By reducing uncertainty with better data, decision makers can have more confidence in the decisions they make - impacting overall performance for optimal outcomes.

Think about the disconnect between the size of a driller’s target window (~30 ft) and the amount of uncertainty that may exist in the wellbore position at the end of a long lateral (~300 ft). With well objectives such as well spacing, collision avoidance concerns and lease lines relying on such narrow windows, oftentimes a traditional 300 ft uncertainty is insufficient to confidently place a well, even if all drilling practices are perfectly executed.

Magnetic models are a critical piece of the magnetic surveying process. Increasing the resolution of a magnetic model can lead to substantial reductions in positional uncertainty. Leveraging satellite data, local observations, and direct measurements can reduce declination uncertainty from 1° to 0.16° at 2-Sigma. This error has a direct impact on azimuth measurements and could result in a horizontal difference of over 140 ft over a 10,000 ft lateral.

Empirical measurements of the geomagnetic field also help ensure confidence in the data and allow for the observance of other errors early in the drilling process.

MWD analytics leverage powerful algorithms to help eliminate systematic errors in the surveys collected by a MWD tool. This ranges from common error sources such as drillstring interference and calibration errors to less obvious issues such as misalignments and magnetic mud.

Highly trained engineers analyzing each individual survey in conjunction with automated solutions offers consistently reliable and timely corrections to directional data. Read out the full news here: Learn more. Contact us to improve your data-driven decisions and increase asset value!