Efficiency Optimization in Oil & Gas Drilling

In the oil and gas sector, the common goals are optimizing output while controlling costs. However, various factors create drilling inefficiencies:

• Complex geological formations like hard rock, high-pressure zones, and unexpected subsurface conditions can slow drilling, increase equipment wear, and necessitate frequent maintenance.
• Outdated or inadequate drilling equipment, equipment malfunctions, power and torque issues, limited drilling speed, or insufficient drilling fluid circulation can hinder efficiency.
• Poor planning and coordination result in suboptimal drilling. Factors include inaccurate well design, improper drilling techniques, inadequate wellbore stability measures, and supervision issues.
• Drilling fluid properties, like viscosity, density, and stability, significantly influence efficiency. Inappropriate or poorly formulated drilling fluids lead to issues such as stuck pipe and poor cleaning.
• Industry regulations can complicate drilling operations. Failing to meet compliance or implement effective safety practices can cause delays or interruptions in drilling activities.

Using Data Analysis for Improved Efficiency

Analyzing data during drilling operations is pivotal for efficiency improvements. It uncovers optimizations, best practices, and valuable lessons. For instance, consider an oil company aiming to enhance drilling speed, with a target of reaching a specific depth in 12 hours. By collecting drilling time data from 30 wells, opportunities for improvement become apparent.

Uncover Insights with Descriptive Stats and Visuals

Calculating descriptive statistics like mean, median, standard deviation, and range provides an overview of the data, revealing outliers and patterns. In the example, the mean and median fall between 12 and 12.5 hours, indicating a symmetrical distribution. A histogram offers a visual of the data, making outliers evident. Although the average exceeds the 12-hour target, two avenues for improvement emerge: pinpointing wells exceeding 12 hours to address inefficiencies and learning from faster wells to enhance others. However, before process adjustments, it is crucial to assess stability and reproducibility.

Process Analysis Reveals Stability and Capability

Using Minitab's Process Capability Six Pack, a single click generates control charts indicating process stability. A capable process ideally requires Cpk and Ppk values above 1.33, ideally 2.0 or higher. This insight informs us that the process falls short of meeting specifications. To drive improvement, the company should assess its entire drilling process instead of focusing on individual wells.

In Conclusion

The initial phase of continuous improvement involves recognizing the need for process enhancement. Employing project planning and execution resources, such as Minitab Workspace, enables you to visualize and evaluate your process. Subsequently, gather data for analysis and harness statistical and predictive analytics to pinpoint the underlying factors causing the problem.

Ready to revolutionize your company with Minitab? Contact Laura Avery, our Director of Sales & Business Development, at laura@bowriversolutions.com. Bring your data to life.