Planning Exploratory Drilling &

Locating Drilling Targets

Serta AKAR
Umut D. SOLAROLU
Ozan ATALAY

1
 Outline
Interpreting conceptual model to target wells

Specifying a rig

How to contract a rig

Budgeting

Importance of drilling supervision

Site management

Well Testing and Well Completion

2
Interpreting Conceptual Model
to Target Wells

3
 Conceptual Model to Target Wells
Well site selection

Expected Geological Section

Well Design

Expected Risks & Proper Equipments

Acquisition of land

Terrain accessibility, water supply

Governmental Regulations

4
 Well Site Selection
Surface Geology
Active Tectonics
Geochemistry
Geophysics
Remote Sensing
GIS
2D Spatial Analysis
Conceptual Models
3D Subsurface Models

5
 Expected Geological Section

Lithology
Sedimentary basin fill, metamorphic
rocks, volcanic intrusions (if exist) Shale
Cap rocks
Reservoir rocks
Heat source
Normal Fault

Structures Sandstone
Fractures, Hydrothermal alteration
zones, Carstic Cavities
Normal Fault

Fault zones Limestone

Permeable zones Normal Fault 6

 Well Design
Final bottom hole
depth,

Final hole size,

Casing diameters

Example:
TVD: 2000m
Final Hole size: 8

Production
Casing Diameter:
7
7
Typical Geothermal Well Schematics

Basic Design Telescopic Design 8

 Expected Risks &
Proper Equipments
Bottom hole temperature

Gas zones H2S and CO2

Anticipated lost circulation zones

Proper Equipments should be selected

Bits, Drill Collars, Casings, Drilling Mud, Cement, Chemicals, BOP,
Logging tools, Fishing toolsetc

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 Acquisition of Land & Governmental
Regulations
Land registry information & land use maps
Forest areas
Historical sites
Settlement areasetc
Acquisition options
Purchasing
Expropriation
Renting
Permitting
Preparing administrative document to governmental
institutions
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 Terrain Accesibility & Water Supply

Access roads

Water Supply

Shallow water well

Tank truck
Water pipeline

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 Drilling Planning Progress

Project Project Drilling Performance

Evaluation Planning Operation Review

Determination of Detailed Design Daily Reporting Cost Reconciliation

Geological Structure
Rig Selection Data Quality Control Regulatory Reporting
Preleminary Design
Procurement Supervising Well Completion
Technical Specs Report
Permitting Forward Planning
Risk Evaluation Lesson Learned
Sub-contractor Program
Cost Estimate selection (if exist) Modification (if
required)
Financial Evaluation Program
Optimization
Agreement with
Contractors

Contracts Signed Rig Mobilized

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Specifying a Rig

13
 Major Rig Components
Types of Rigs

Rig Power Systems

Hoisting Systems

Rotary Systems

Circulation Systems

Power Systems

Well Control Equipments

Miscellaneous Rig Items

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 Types of Rigs
Slimhole Rigs
Diamond Bit / Coring
Rotary

Conventional Rigs
Type
Mobile Rigs
Semi Mobile Rigs
Land Rigs
Offshore Rigs

Drawworks
Single Drum
Double Drum
Triple Drum

Power Types
Diesel
Electric

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 Hoisting Systems

A pulley system to mechanically lift and lower

equipment into the well bore Derrick Crown

Mast & Derrick (The Tower)

Traveling Block, Hook

Mast
Series of pulleys and sheaves
connected to the crown.

Drilling Line (Wireline)

Steel wire 7/8 or 2

Drawworks
Large drum where drill line is wrapped

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 Rotary Systems

Swivel
Connects traveling block to drill string
Allows fluids to be pumped down the
drill string
Allows the drill string to rotate

Kelly
Square or Hexagon shaped pipe
connected between swivel and drill pipe
Fits into bushing

Bushing
Torque is transferred to Kelly by
bushing from the table

Rotary Table
Transfers torque generated by engine
Suspends the pipe during connections
and trip
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 Rotary Systems

Top Drive
Instead of table, bushing and Kelly
the torque is generated by the top
drive

Tubulars or Drill Collars

Larger in diameter than drill pipes
Add weight on the bit Top Drive

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 Circulation Systems
Settling Tank (Shaker)
Mud Pumps (The Hearth)

Mud Tanks (Pits) Standpipe / Rotary Hose

Suction Tank Cooling Tower

19
 Power Systems

Mechanical (diesel) or Electrical

Engine

Generators: Produce AC current, transmitted to the SCR house

SCR House: Converts AC to DC current and powers electric motors

20
 Well Control Equipments
Blow Out Preventer (BOP) Choke Manifold
Single Ram Type
Double Ram Type Accumulator
Annular Type Annular BOP
Rotating Head

Double Ram BOP

Accumulator

Choke Manifold 21
 Well Control
Common Causes of Kicks
Insufficient mud density
Poor cementing operation
Lost Circulation
Abnormal Temperature and pressure
Excessive drilling rate
Inadequate BOP & poor casing design
Trapped gas below BOP
Water flushes
Failure to maintain back pressure while
underbalance drilling.

How to Identify a Kick

Gain in pit volume
Change in Rate of Penetration (ROP)
Increase in pump strokes

How to prevent Kicks

Monitoring drilling parameters
Slightly greater mud pressure than
formation pressure
Proper casing design
A diverter system
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Proper BOP and trained rig personnel
 Miscellaneous Items

Sub-Structure (Platform)

Hand Tools

Rotary Tongs

Drill Pipe Floats

Crew (with geothermal experience)

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 Drilling Tools

Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA)

Drilling Bits
Roller Cone Bits
Drag Bits
Percussion Bits
Coring Bits

Bit Subs

Stabilizers

Drill Collars (DC)

Jars

Reamers

Fishing Tools
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How to Contract a Rig

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 How to Contract a Rig
Availability of contractor

Geothermal experience of contractor

Number of well in the contract

Balancing rig mobilization costs

Risk of not finding a resource

Health and safety regulations

Penalties and charges

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 Types of Contract

Day Rate

Daily rental rate

Rates depend on the capacity of the rig

Procurement for anything not represented in the day rate is

organized by the operator

Operator has a representative onsite (Company Man)

Operator is fully responsible for all of the drilling risks

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 Types of Contract

Footage

Contractor is contracted to drill the proposed depth

Progress payment is made according to total footage drilled

Casing and cement is paid by the operator

Third party services are needed during drilling and paid by the
operator

Rental equipments are contractors responsibility (rents are daily

basis and cost can not be estimated)

Drilling risks are shared between operator and contractor

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 Types of Contract

Turnkey

Contractor proposes lump sum price to drill and complete the

operators proposed well

Contractor is responsible procurement or logistics of all

equipments and materials

Drilling risks are transferred to the contractor

Cost of turnkey contracts to the operator are much higher than

other types

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Budgeting

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 Key Points in Budgeting
Type of Drilling
Slimhole
Cover Drilling (Air Drilling)
Conventional
Directional, Multi directional

Casing Program

Cementing Program

Drilling Mud Program

Drill Bit Selection

BOP Requirements & Well Head Equipments

Rig Specifications
Diesel vs. Electric
Kelly vs. Top Drive

Unexpected Cost
Fishing, Equipment Rental, Logging, Standby costetc

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 Budgeting
*Cost estimation for a sample 2000m geothermal well

WELL SERVICES Unit Quantity Unit Price ($) Price ($)

Drilling company day rate Day 40 20.000 800.000
Mud service day rate - - - -
Cementing service price - - - 150.000
Logging service price - - -
Location construction price - - - 150.000
Mobilisation / Demobilisation - - - 400.000
TOTAL $1.500.000

CASING Unit Quantity Unit Price ($) Price ($)

20" OD, 94 PPF ,J55, BTC, R3 Meter 100 300 30.000
13 3/8" OD, 54,5 PPF, J55, BTC, R3 Meter 500 120 60.000
9 5/8" OD, 43.5 - 47 PPF, L80 , BTC, R3 Meter 1000 100 100.000
7" OD, 23 PPF, J55, R3, Slotted Meter 500 80 40.000
TOTAL $230.000
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 Budgeting
CEMENT - CEMENT CHEMICALS Unit Quantity Price ($)
G- Class Cement KG 130000 25000
Slica KG 40000 5000
CFR 3 KG 700 2500
Halad 9 KG 1200 14000
HR 12 KG 900 3500
$50.000
CHEMICALS $ 50.000
$ 50.000

WELLHEAD EQUIPMENT Unit Quantity Price ($)

21 1/4" 2M Casing Housing EA 1 4.700
20" Clamps EA 1 700
13 3/8" Clamps EA 1 600
13 5/8" 3M Casing Housing EA 1 2.000
3 1/8" 3M Blind Flange EA 2 400
13 5/8" 3M Expansion Spool EA 1 11.000
3 1/8" 3M Gate Valve EA 2 19.000
13 5/8 3M - 11" 3M DSA EA 1 1.600
11" 3M (Ani 600) Gate Valve EA 1 26.000
13 5/8 3M - 11" 3M Tee Spool EA 1 3.500
11" 3M Blind Flange EA 1 500
$70.000
BIT * Unit Quantity Price ($)
26", IADC: 115 EA 1 22.000
17 1/2", IADC: 425 EA 2 34.000
12 1/4", IADC: 435 EA 1 7.000
12 1/4", IADC: 537X EA 1 15.000
8 1/2", IADC: 547Y EA 4 22.000
$100.000
FUEL
DIESEL KG 150000 450.000
$450.000 33
 Budgeting
Cost (x1000 USD)

Min.
Ave.
Max.
Measured Depth (m)

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Drilling Supervision

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 Drilling Supervision
Company Man (Petroleum Engineer)

Well Site Geologist

24 hours of drilling (2 or 3 shifts)

Location Services (settlement plan, ground concrete, cellar holeetc)

Acceptance of Rig (checking rig inventory)

Daily reporting from well site to the headquarters

Geology reports (DGR)

Drilling Report (DDR)

Mud Report (DMR)

Tickets

Forward Planning (Changes in casing depths, mud type, drilling bit, logging)

Quality Control and well completion (cementing, casing, well headetc)

Release of Rig
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 Drilling Supervision
Mud Logging Unit ( Continuous / online monitoring of drilling parameters)

Weight on Bit (WOB)

Rate of Penetration (ROP)

Rotary Torque

Mud pump Pressure and Volume

Mud Logging Unit Control room
Mud in & out temperatures

Mud viscosity

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 Site Management

Pollution Prevention
Mud chemical analysis
Mud disposal (Sewage Truck)

Risk Management (i.e. Blow out)

Health & Safety

Communication with management

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 Well Testing
&
Well Completion

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 Well Testing

Before Releasing Drilling Rig

Use of liner (logging, stimulating, air lifting, flow testing)
Deepening the well

Well Characteristics
Flow Rate
Temperature / Enthalpy
Deliverability curve
Fluid Sampling and chemical properties ( scaling, corrosionetc)
Mechanical integrity (casing failure, cement quality)

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 Well Testing

Duration : less than 24 hours (rig stand by rates)

Goal: Preliminary well assessment

Measurements:
Flow rate (production or injection)
Pressure and Temperature
Down hole (PT survey)
Well head & Flow line
Fluid sampling (from flow line and down hole with FTS)
Reservoir zone / fluid inlet zone determination with spinner survey
(PTS)

Power Capacity Estimation (MWt)

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 Typical Flow Test Configuration

Silencer Flow line

Valve
Orifice
Plate

Flow Line
James Tube
Weir Box
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 Well Testing - Logging

PT (pressure & temperature) logging

PTS (pressure & temperature & spinner )
logging
FTS (down hole sample collection)

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 Well Testing - Logging

Caliper

Gamma Ray

Sonic

Resistivity

Neutron Density

Well Bore Imaging

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 Well Stimulation
Batch Mixer
Stimulation
Acidizing
Perforation / Blasting
Fracturing

Cementing Unit

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 Summary
Exploration studies should be conducted systematically
to target geothermal wells

Drilling risks should be studied carefully

Good contractors with geothermal experience

Detailed budgeting should be made

Drilling supervision and site management is important

Well head equipments & cementing are critical points

and defines the life span of the well

Stimulation can increase the performance of the well

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