Drilling technology challenges and ways to improve efficiency

Summary: The high and low efficiency of drilling wells and their close relationship to the technical level of drilling engineering, as well as the problems and deficiencies in the current status of the drilling work, hinder the quality and efficiency of the construction work. This paper begins with an analysis of the problems that exist in the technology of drilling, while at the same time it describes the measures taken to improve the efficiency of drilling technology. It concludes with a full summary, based primarily on technical and management aspects, and is intended to provide recommendations for improving the efficiency and quality of drilling, and its conclusions are for information purposes only.

Keywords: drilling efficiency; drilling engineering techniques; problems; upgrading response

In practical terms, there are still many problems and deficiencies in the technical aspects of drilling, which make it difficult to achieve efficiency and quality improvements in drilling and affect the conduct of drilling. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the technical management of drilling, to improve the handling of sudden-onset problems, to upgrade the technical level of drilling and to strengthen the control of drilling work, in order to achieve a more efficient drilling of wells, which is discussed, analysed and developed in detail below.

1 Problems in drilling engineering techniques

1.1 Technological level issues

At present, the oilfields industry, while continuously upgrading its drilling technology, has a number of problems with drilling engineering technology and equipment. The level of technology for drilling wells in our country is severely inadequate compared to that of Western developed countries, and it varies considerably from abroad. In addition to the different characteristics of the work carried out by each oilfield enterprise, the process requirements vary during the drilling phase, and drilling techniques are uneven and affected by the technical aspects of drilling, which makes it difficult to guarantee the efficiency of drilling.

1.2 Management level issues

During the drilling phase, new requirements for the technical management of drilling were introduced to ensure the efficiency of drilling and improve the quality of oil exploration. In the current situation, the impact of well-drilling has left many gaps and deficiencies in the construction of wells, making it difficult to effectively implement the technical programme of well-drilling, making it more difficult to manage well-drilling and to enforce job-management, and thus to safeguard the quality of well-drilling and well-drilling.

1.3 Quality of personnel

While advanced construction techniques were introduced during the drilling work, it was not possible to build up a highly qualified workforce on the basis of technical requirements and to guarantee the implementation of the relevant systems and measures. In order to save human resources costs, some enterprises employ less qualified staff who lack a wealth of work experience and insufficient innovation capacity, thus hindering the implementation of site management and ensuring the efficiency of drilling work. In practice, it is not possible to carry out staff expertise, professional skills training in a phased manner, in addition to the lack of a well-developed management system and mechanisms to guarantee the effectiveness of work.

2 Response to efficiency improvements in drilling technology

Based on the above-mentioned analysis of the technical problems associated with drilling wells, and in order to promote better development of drilling wells, it is necessary to actively pursue technological innovations in drilling wells and to refine the policy to improve their efficiency, as detailed below.

2.1 Technical responses

First, the technical equipment for drilling needs to be upgraded, the construction phase for drilling needs to be supported by technical equipment, and only through enhanced quality control of the technical equipment for drilling, a focus on the improvement and optimization of the equipment, and enhanced application of new materials will it be possible to save resources, speed up drilling and ensure the efficiency of drilling. Second, the upgrading of drilling technology will be achieved by increasing the efficiency of drilling, increasing the priority given to drilling technology, enhancing research on drilling technology and enhancing investment in research technology. Finally, the quality control of drilling technology is being strengthened, advanced technology is being actively introduced, the oil field characteristics are being integrated, the drilling combination is being optimized and improved, and the drilling process is being made more efficient. The promotion of the efficiency of drilling is achieved by actively introducing advanced technology, enhancing technological learning, taking into account actual needs, developing targeted solutions, continuously optimizing the technical programme for drilling, and improving the implementation measures for drilling, so as to ensure the viability of the programme.

2.2 Management responses

First, greater development of the drilling information system to ensure real-time data collection for the drilling of wells, with the help of an online information system, could enhance data information analysis and quickly identify key information, thereby providing decision-making support for drilling work and improving the efficiency and quality of construction work for drilling work. Second, the education and training of construction personnel is conducted on a regular basis, the technical training of specialists is accelerated, the skills of construction personnel are upgraded, and well-drilling enterprises need to develop a good training awareness, regular safety education and the construction of a highly qualified drilling team. Thirdly, the selection of targeted drilling techniques, based on the characteristics of the drilling work, with different drilling requirements, should be based on the actual circumstances of the drilling work and should be based on a reasonable choice of drilling techniques. Before the construction of the drilling work, it would be necessary to select the best technical programme for drilling work, taking into account the geological characteristics of the construction site, and to apply the “safe first” principle of construction. Fourth, the work on the drilling project should be carried out by enhancing the screening of hazards, improving the safety of the drilling project, and completing the work to ensure that escorts are provided for the implementation of the drilling programme. Fifthly, during the construction phase of the drilling project, the site construction management needs to be strengthened, the management system continuously improved, the responsibility assigned to the head is being properly managed and the drilling efficiency improved. During the construction phase of the drilling project, it should be ensured that responsibility is assigned to the head, that the concept of security construction is implemented and that the quality and safety of the drilling work is ensured.

2.3 Building the talent base

As a result of the construction phase of the drilling project, some advanced technology will be introduced, which will in turn result in the drilling project placing entirely new demands on the talent required. During the actual construction phase, the drilling engineering enterprise should strengthen its skills development, introduce highly skilled personnel and carry out pre-employment training. At the same time, the construction of wells also requires the expansion of the pool of skilled personnel. (b) To provide specialized training for existing technical personnel, to set up specific training funds, to conduct scientific training and education activities, to develop a specific control mechanism based on the characteristics of their posts and to promote the acquisition of advanced drilling techniques by technical personnel. The development of job responsibility and the development of advanced management mechanisms, which assign responsibility to the head, will lead to the improvement of the reliability and effectiveness of drilling work.

2.4 Equipment application measures

First, to improve the efficiency and performance of drilling work by analysing the actual situation in the drilling borehole area and, in the case of structurally defined sizes, by conducting comprehensive controls, increasing the speed and pressure of construction work on drilling work and effectively reducing the loss of friction from drilling work. Second, during the actual construction phase, the drilling enterprise needs to identify the requirements and scientific use of drilling techniques to improve the efficiency of drilling and to comply with the requirements. During the application phase of the complex drilling technology, the cost of the drilling works will need to be reduced by increasing the penetration of the drill, reducing waste of materials and saving resources. Scientifically, the use of screws is required to carry out drilling activities, reduce working hours, speed up drilling, increase the efficiency of drilling and effectively maintain the economic efficiency of drilling enterprises. Thirdly, measures for the use of polymer-drilling fluids, which play an irreplaceable role during the construction phase of the drilling project, use of polymer-drilling fluids to ensure the stability of well-drilling walls and to effectively act as polymers, accelerating the drilling of wells in the context of a full-scale water-segregation, and efficiently applying resources to achieve increased efficiency. At the same time, during the application phase of drilling engineering, polymer-drilling fluids can increase the level of drilling work, better meet current development needs, optimize the mechanisms for construction of drilling work and complete drilling work within the scheduled period.

In conclusion, the construction of wells during the construction phase is a major technical problem. To achieve greater efficiency in the construction of wells, it is necessary to continuously optimize drilling techniques and to enhance the management of wells in order to optimize the efficiency of drilling and to promote the better development of the sectors involved.

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