Drilling

Simplify completion
Engineers at Helis Oil and Gas Co., LLC, were concerned about wellbore pressure
management in a complex well they planned to drill in the Gulf of Mexico. As a result,
the original plan for the wellOCS-G 2877 #1 ST00 BP00 in Vermillion Block 338
called for a slimhole completion with 5-in and 7
5
8-in liners below the 9
5
8-in intermediate
casing string. The engineers wanted to avoid the cost and difficulty associated with
this slimhole completion.
Drill confidently
Drilling optimization from the Schlumberger Operation Support Center in Houston enabled
them to achieve that goal. The key to success was continuous communication, via satellite,
between the rig and the Operation Support Center team, and use of the PERFORM*
Performance Through Risk Management Process to manage wellbore pressure.
Combining StethoScope* formation pressure-while-drilling and sonicVISION* sonic-
while-drilling measurements in real time reduced the cone of uncertainty in the look-
ahead geopressure modelallowing the operator to drill confidently in the very tight
mud envelope. The StethoScope and sonicVISION measurements were transmitted to
the surface, together with measurements from an arcVISION* Array Resistivity
Compensated tool, by the TeleScope* high-speed telemetry while-drilling service.
Real-time model updating, based on sonicVISION measurements and calibration of the pore
pressure model with StethoScope pressure data, allowed reducing the cone of uncertainty in
the pore pressure model ahead of the bit.
2
4
6
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p
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,

1
,
0
0
0

f
t
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1
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f
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8
10
12
8 12
Pressure gradient, ppg
16
Predrill
pressure
predictions
2
4
6
8
10
12
8 12
Pressure gradient, ppg
16
Reducing
cone of
uncertainty
2
4
6
8
10
12
8 12
Pressure gradient, ppg
16
Final pore
pressure
profile
2
4
6
8
10
12
8 12
Pressure gradient, ppg
16
Real-time
pressure
predictions
Formation
pressure
measured
in real time
Formation
pressure
measured
in permeable
formations
Denser
measurements
yield higher
quality look
ahead
Real-time results are used to update model while drilling
Challenge
Avoid difficult and costly slimhole
completion in a hazardous pore
pressure environment.
Solution
Extend and eliminate preplanned
casing strings using Operation
Support Center to optimize
drilling and manage wellbore
pressure.
Results
Reached TD with 7-in liner.
Avoided difficult slimhole
completion. Saved more than
USD 1.7 million.
Reduce Casing Costs
by Optimizing Drilling
Case study: Operation Support Center drilling optimization saves
Helis more than USD 1.7 million on Gulf of Mexico well
Reduce casing costs
Drilling optimization by the Operation Support Center team allowed the 9
5
8-in intermediate
casing to be extended 1,287 ft deeper than planned, so TD could be reached with a 7-in
liner. By eliminating the 7
5
8-in and 5-in liners, Helis not only avoided the difficulties associ-
ated with slimhole drilling and completion, but also reduced casing costssaving more
than USD 1.7 million.
The Operation Support Center created an ideal environment for collaboration to optimize
drilling and well placement, increase safety, and reduce risk. It provided real-time moni-
toring of drilling data, an efficient workspace for team members, and remote operations
management.
Visit www.slb.com/casestudies for additional case studies.
Extending the 9
5
8-in casing point 1,287 ft deeper than planned eliminated the preplanned 5-in liner,
saving Helis more than USD 1.7 million.
Actual Plan
Case study: Operation Support Center drilling optimization saves
Helis more than USD 1.7 million on Gulf of Mexico well
Drilling optimization by the
Operation Support Center team
enabled Helis to save more
than USD 1.7 million and avoid
a difficult slimhole completion.
06-DR-042 June 2006
*Mark of Schlumberger
Copyright 2006 Schlumberger. All rights reserved.
Produced by Schlumberger Marketing Communications
www.slb.com/scope