Study shows use of digital twins in well construction, drilling operations

STAVANGER -- eDrilling, a leading provider of drilling and well performance solutions, has announced the results of a study researching the value of using digital twins in well construction and drilling operations.

The company researched 60+ wells where eDrilling’s digital twin technology was used in 1) preparations for well, 2) automated monitoring of well, and 3) real-time optimization of well – or a combination of these.

It was found that these wells had no hazardous incidents, nor any non-geological sidetracks, both key priorities and key objectives for most E&P companies around the world.

As the software at a very early stage detects anomalies, crews are provided diagnostics messages and notifications in good time to make the necessary adjustments.

“People and safety has always been our guiding principle when developing our software solutions, but our customers are also happy about ridding themselves of the considerable costs associated with having to do sidetracks, said Sven Inge Ødegaard, eDrilling’s COO. “In our mind, digital twins represent the biggest opportunity available today for performance optimization, avoidance of NPT, and hazard prevention in the oil and gas industry.”

Methodology

The company analyzed 60+ wells where eDrilling’s Digital Twin technologies had been actively utilized in preparation and/or operation, and where correct and sufficient data had been used to conclude on the hypothesis. Thus, 40+ of the digital twins in the period were omitted, due to availability (contractual, geographical, policy) of data.

Sidetracks, or avoidance thereof, was the focal area of the study, although the study also found that there had been 0 hazardous incidents on the 60+ wells analyzed.

Geological surprises as reason for having to do a sidetrack were omitted. Cuttings build up, collapse, washout, and packoff leading to plugging the well, were included.

According to the company, it had 5,000+ participants in drill well in simulator prior to operations, with 150+ well specific scenarios. Automated monitoring and real-time optimization is used in all drilling operations. This includes tripping, drilling, casing/liner operations and cementing. It is also used in advanced operations like MPD and DGD.