Arun Singh Chandel- Assistant Professor B.Tech. (Chemical Engineering) MS (Oil and Gas Engineering), United Kingdom aschandel@ddn.upes.ac.in COES
So just where does Oil Come from?
WEATHERING & EROSION of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks TRANSPORT OF DEBRIS by wind, running water, etc.., and DEPOSITION in the sea SUBSIDENCE accompanied by compression and cementation of loose sediments FOLDING & UPLIFTING accompanied by volcanic activity and igneous intrusions
ERA SYSTEM AGE (approx.) millions of years QUATERNARY Recent Pleistocene 0 0.01 CAENOZOIC or TERTIARY Pliocene Miocene Oligocene Eocene Palaeocene 2 7 26 38 54 MESOZOIC or SECONDARY Cretaceous Jurassic Triassic 65 136 195 PALAEOZOIC or PRIMARY Permian Carboniferous Devonian Silurian Ordovician Cambrian 225 280 345 395 440 500 AZOIC or ARCHAEAN Pre-Cambrian Origin of Earth from - 570 4500 Just how long has it been there?
Oil in place
How much Oil?
Rock Matrix Pore Space (Porosity) But Pore space without communication is no good. We need .. Permeability
Porosity is expressed as a % of pore space vs. total rock volume
Drilling Process Overview Stage 1: Geological Survey
Geological data is gathered and interpreted by geophysicists and geologists looking at where, when, and at what depth there could be hydrocarbons in place
Initially by using ...Seismic data
Subsurface formations are mapped by measuring the time taken for acoustic pulses generated in the earth to return to the surface after reflection or refraction from interfaces between geological formations with different physical properties
Drilling Process Overview Stage 2: Cost Estimation (AFE)
From this initial information costs are estimated to prepare an AFE (Application for Expenditure) for submission to management
Drilling Process Overview Stage 3: Well Planning
Drilling engineers start the process of designing the well in conjunction with the geologists, reservoir engineers and well completion specialists
Well Planning Consists of Things Like..
Rig Selection Permits & Legislative compliance Blow Out Prevention Casing Design Mud Programme Solids Control Systems Drill Bit Options Directional Drilling Requirements Logging (evaluation) Programme Completion Requirements HS&E (Health, Safety & Environmental) Aspects
... To name but a few...
Drilling Process Overview Stage 4: Well Construction
The next stage is the construction of the well using drilling equipment suitable for the pressure and hazards expected
Well Types
Wildcat: Little or no previous drilling exploration activity in the area Exploratory: Geological target selection based on seismic data, and geological modelling i.e. no previous drilling in the prospective horizon Appraisal: Delineates the reservoirs boundaries, usually drilled after the exploratory discoveries Producers: Drilling into a known reservoir Infill: Drilling in known productive portions of the reservoir that have not been properly drained. This is usually done later in the life of the reservoir Re-entry: Existing well re-entered to deepen, side-track, complete, or re- complete
Drill Bits are used to cut / crush the rock Roller Cone PDC These are made-up to heavy large diameter series of tubes, collectively called...
... the Bottom Hole Assembly BHA Drill Collar Connection Hevi-Wate Drill Pipe Stabilizer Drilling fluids: Mud - has to: cool and lubricate the bit, drillstring, and to clean the bottom of the hole carry cuttings to surface remove cuttings from the mud at surface minimise possible subsequent formation damage control formation pressures and to maintain hole integrity assist in well logging operations minimise corrosion of the drillstring, casing and tubing, minimise contamination problems minimise torque, drag and pipe sticking propensities, improve drilling rate
Carry Cuttings to Surface Reduce Rotational Torque Form Filter Cake Stabilize Formation Lubricate Drill Bit
Main functions of casing strings Consolidate unstable formations that have just been drilled through Contain any pressures that may be encountered Separate any different pressure regimes Provide structural support for the BOPs and diverters Protect sensitive formations from contamination Provide a suitable environment for installation of production or testing equipment such as packers, downhole valves, tubing, liner hangers etc.
Packer Production Tubing Production Fluids Casing String Christmas Tree When a well has been drilled and cased it must now be Completed in order to produce the hydrocarbons residing in the reservoir Completions Modern completions
Drilling process overview Stage 5: Well Maintenance Once the well has been completed and is flowing for commercial purposes, it has to be maintained with occasional intervention work for replacement of worn parts e.g. leaking down-hole safety valves, and to gather pressure and temperature information for reservoir management
Produced Oil can be processed and stored ready for tankering in Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Vessels Or... By subsea pipelines etc... .... Monitoring .... Detailed reservoir models and simulations are constantly updated as new development-drilling data becomes available enabling effective Field Management Drilling process overview Stage 6: Abandonment Abandonment - this is the stage when the reservoir is depleted and seabed or land is returned to its natural environment
A well is abandoned when it reaches the end of its useful life or is a dry hole. The casing and other equipment is removed and salvaged.
Cement plugs are placed in the borehole to prevent migration of fluids between the different formations.
The surface is reclaimed and returned to natural environment.
How an Oil Company is Generally Structured Oil Company (or Well operator) Drilling Engineering Formation Evaluation Accounts Operations Reservoir Engineering Production Engineering Geology Drilling Superintendent Wells in Progress How a Drilling Contractor is Generally Structured Drilling Contractor Accounts Rig Manager Rig Design & Maintenance Tool Pusher Rig 1 Driller Derrickman Rig Crew Tool Pusher Rig 2 (etc. Driller Derrickman Rig Crew Drilling Service companies Drilling Service Companies Drilling Fluids Drilling Cements Directional Drilling Casing Running Formation Evaluation Mud Logging Drilling Bits Tool Rental Well Completion Equipment Many others .....etc. Further Reading MIs Drilling Fluids Engineering Manual Chapter 1 Introduction http://science.howstuffworks.com/oil-drilling.htm/printable http://science.howstuffworks.com/oil-refining.htm/printable http://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/Default.cfm