Improving well delivery process in exploration and applying drillig and geological principles

Research output: Thesis › Master's Thesis

Abstract

In order to be able to successfully drill an exploration well the geology and the implication it has on the drilling practices need to be known. The first part of the thesis is a practical part that tries to visualize the magnitude of geological properties such as layers of rocks or faults etc. using an outcrop analysis. This outcrop analysis includes a detailed insight about the geological setting of the rocks, presence of faults, mineralogy of the rocks and sedimentological background. Using this data a geological roadmap is created. In the field, samples are taken in order to be analyzed in the petrophysics lab. Taken all this data into consideration a hypothetical well is planned onto the outcrop. The well plan for the hypothetical well is then compared to wells in similar formations, in order to be able to illustrate the optimum well delivery process for this certain geological setting. This is critical for harmonization and derisking projects and key efficiency improvements in operators. The second part of the thesis is a theoretical part that focuses on well data and shows for different geological settings the best possible solutions. The data used for the analysis is log data, geological maps and others. It analyses the methods that were used to drill these wells under the certain geological circumstances and additionally proposes different well design solutions using other practices. Aditionally a Workflow for an improved well planning process is presented.

Details

Translated title of the contributionVerbesserung von Explorationsbohrungen unter Anwendung von geologischen und bohrungstechnischen Methoden
Original languageEnglish
QualificationDipl.-Ing.
Supervisors/Advisors
Award date1 Jul 2016
Publication statusPublished - 2016