Shell Saves USD 8.5 Million During Gulf of Mexico Salt Drilling Project | Schlumberger
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Case Study
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Location
Gulf of Mexico, United States, North America, Offshore
Details

Challenge: Outperform previous benchmark in salt drilling while maximizing penetration rates and reducing operating costs

Solution:

  • Use PowerDrive Orbit RSS to maintain directional control at increased rpm
  • Incorporate the AxeBlade ridged diamond element bit for lower reactive torque and higher ROP

Results:

  • Drilled salt interval with a record-breaking net ROP of 311 ft/h, beating the operator’s worldwide benchmarks
  • Saved USD 8.5 million compared with the expected well plan
Products Used
PowerDrive Orbit Rotary Steerable System
AxeBlade Ridged Diamond Element Bit

Shell Saves USD 8.5 Million During Gulf of Mexico Salt Drilling Project

Optimized BHA incorporates PowerDrive Orbit RSS with AxeBlade bit to achieve 311-ft/h net ROP in salt interval

Improve drilling speed and efficiency in salt drilling

Shell wanted to design an optimized drilling system and identify best practices that would set a new standard for Gulf of Mexico salt drilling. This required a joint effort between Shell and Schlumberger to identify best practices.

Use an optimized BHA design to achieve footage and ROP increases

Based on the analysis, a "drill on torque" approach was recommended to maximize ROP in the salt. This would require increasing the torque limit to 65,000 ft.lbf while drilling salt. Consequently, it was suggested that the salt drilling BHAs be designed with higher torsional stiffness to enable higher torque and rpm without inducing harmful vibrations.

For the 16 1/2-in build-and-hold section, a combination of the PowerDrive Orbit RSS from Schlumberger and the AxeBlade bit from Smith Bits, a Schlumberger company, was recommended to enhance the drilling performance and to widen the operating envelope, as compared with conventional PDC bits and RSS systems.

Achieved new salt drilling benchmarks

The 18 1/8-in × 21-in section was drilled at 200 rpm with 65,000-lbf surface WOB, resulting in 200-ft/h [61-m/h] net ROP, and a maximum instantaneous ROP of 300 ft/h [91 m/h]. This represents a 20% increase in ROP, as compared with the best offset of 160 ft/h [49 m/h].

Graph: Shell Saves USD 8.5 Million During Gulf of Mexico Salt Drilling Project - Optimized BHA incorporates PowerDrive Orbit RSS with AxeBlade bit to achieve 311-ft/h net ROP in salt interval
The SonicScope multipole sonic-while-drilling service.

Drilling performance on the 16 1/2-in salt section outperformed the historical benchmark of 275 ft/h [84 m/h] by achieving a 311-ft/h [95-m/h] net ROP, while building from vertical to 42° inclination. A maximum instantaneous ROP of 479 ft/h [146 m/h] was achieved during the run. The operation drilled 5,353 ft [1,632 m] in a 24-hour period and the entire 13,674-ft [4,168-m] interval was drilled in a single run. ROP increased by 20% and 13% for the 18 1/8-in × 21-in and 16 1/2-in sections, respectively, as compared with the best offset well. This resulted in a savings of USD 8.5 million under the AFE for the 16 1/2-in TD.

Products Used
AxeBlade
Ridged diamond element bit

Improve penetration rates and directional control with our ridged 3D cutting element bit.
PowerDrive Orbit
Rotary steerable system

Achieve precise wellbore positioning on any rig type worldwide.

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