RIASSUNTO
Abstract
Sedco Forex are currently building a new land drilling rig based upon the SIMPLER* concept. This SIMPLER* concept reviewed a wide range of issues associated with the well construction process and developed an innovative approach to drilling operations resulting in significant cost savings. The basis of this novel approach is to re-engineer and integrate the well construction activities with regards to personnel and equipment, and make extensive use of cost-effective technology from oilfield and non-oilfield applications.
The use of multi-skilling and integration of personnel implies a smaller rig crew which results in direct and indirect cost savings. However, smaller crew also implies mechanisation of labour intensive tasks which not only reduces personnel exposure to hazardous activities, thus increasing safety, but also increases efficiency, thus reducing well costs. Smaller crew also implies improvements in rig design and material selection for minimum maintenance, ease of cleaning, etc.
This paper will briefly describe the methodology used for the rig design, which takes into consideration not only operator's priorities and needs, but also, local conditions and constraints. These issues combined with a simplified client/contractor relationship leads to a ""fit for purpose"" rig design.
In detail the paper describes the application of various cost effective technologies used on this land rig to achieve objectives of well cost reduction, improvements in HSE performance and rig mobility. Finally, it is explained; how these initiatives have influenced the overall rig design, showing that the use of innovative technology can have a marked positive effect on the economics of our future energy exploitation.
Introduction
Coming with a new rig design in today's competitive drilling market conditions is a challenge which requires an overall approach. In the case of this project two elements support innovations to make it cost effective:
- The big picture approach, looking not only at new rig hardware cost but offsetting it by savings from the new rig organisation, drilling efficiency and logistics.
- Wide use of existing state of the art technologies (from oil field and non oil field industries). Integrating these new technologies at an early design rather than retrofitting them on an existing rig enable to take full advantage of them.
Full benefits of a purpose built rig can only be understood with a different type of contracting strategy. Historically, for drilling rig contracts, operators have produced a comprehensive tender package specifying strictly the type and size of individual rig components and the number of personnel that they require to drill their wells. The driving force for the contractor is to bid a rig at the cheapest rate and to comply with as many of the operator's tender requests as possible. The risk and reward to adapt or change the way the drilling organisation is structured is not there.
In this case, the onus was placed on the drilling contractor to provide a ""fit for purpose"" rig. Field location, profile of the wells to be drilled, Operator's priorities and local constraints were spelled out. It was only then, that a re-engineering of the tasks on the rig was proposed. The rig specifications evolve from this re-engineering of tasks which leads to a ""fit for purpose"" rig design able to realise the vast opportunity of synergy that exists.
Without having to follow a definitive equipment list or provide a specific number of personnel, the progress towards a true integration of services and equipment has been achieved. To allow both parties to profit from this synergy a long term contract has been awarded so that investments in new equipment and training are given enough time to demonstrate the savings proposed.
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