Print this pageAbstract: Mungo Field - Improved Communication by 3D Visualization of Drilling Problems
HOLT, JONATHAN, BP Exploration Co. Ltd.
The drive for greater and greater efficiency combined with the ever-increasing complexity of today's wells require operators to search for improved methods of working. This has taken the form of better interdisciplinary communication and cooperation allied with better-adapted software tools. However, there has persisted a lack of the necessary shared understanding of the problems faced by the various disciplines in the design and construction of today's wells. Visualization provides one means to convey complex models simply, but in most cases to date has been used only within the reservoir. It is no coincidence that in this area the greatest amount of data has been interpreted and can be viewed as helpful information.
This paper illustrates the enormous gains possible throughout the well construction phase if we can maximize the use of the available data from the surface to total depth, and transform it into "Driller useable information". Visualization is used to communicate potential problems in the planning phase and to foster common understanding of past problems. For key planning reviews, the team is gathered in a so-called collaboration center to share all information, uncover key problems, and take steps to resolve them. The approach shown is unusual in that the problems portrayed in the geoscience model are drilling problems arising while drilling the overburden. In our case, visualizing well planning data in the context of the shared earth model made it clear to all the subsurface team that more geoscience data had to be interpreted to maximize future well construction efficiency.
AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90911©2000 AAPG Pacific Section and Western Region Society of Petroleum Engineers, Long Beach, California