What is big data for well planning? 

This article give you the insight you need and useful tips to get the big data working for you.

We assume you know well planning and are curious about big data, so let’s explore the world of big data for drilling and completions operations.

Comparison: Well Planning vs Retail Customers

The term big data is widely used, and often refers to retail customer analysis and online marketing. Big data is the tool to get to know your customers and design your marketing for optimum reward. Smart algorithms analyze shopping patterns, and you get models which help you predict their next purchase. But more importantly give you the tool to optimize the customers shopping cart for your sales revenue.

For drilling and well operations, the principle is similar and valuable, but we need to add a few little twists to make to fit the the big data. Read on to learn how we can compare to the retail industry, and benefit from the same methodology.

What We Want to Predict in Well Planning

Firstly, the geology is the big uncertainty we want to predict, like the shoppers for the retailers. The geology is the equivalent to the customers in shopping analysis. Over all the years of making holes and completing them, we have still not tamed mother earth, and we take on large uncertainties in every well. When will we hit clays, will they collapse at the planned angle, are there depleted zones, etc.

Secondly, we have strong algorithms for connecting the data points. Our industry has thousands of engineers who know how pore pressure curves relate to well paths, casing designs, rig requirements, fluid compositions, cementing programs, completions and production. The dots have been connected so many times, we can safely say we know how to plan a well. Comparing to the retailers again, this is how we lay out our stores for optimum reward.

The last point, and the most interesting point is the rewards. For Target, Wallmart, or Amazon.com, the reward is higher sales and more efficient marketing. In our industry, the big reward lies in increased precision and faster operations. As you know, the cost of a well is strongly correlated to the time it takes to make the hole and complete it with a production system. So when big data help us do more calculations, take in more risk factors, and optimize based on loads of data sets, we benefit.

How Will Big Data Benefit You?

For you, the reward is harvested when you see that the data change. And they do all the time in planning, and in operations. The well is moved to avoid shallow hazards, the reservoir production strategy changes, or new seismics make your old plan obsolete. When you build a well design based on how data connects, you simply let the big data work for you, and the plan updates when the data changes. Examples:

• Pore pressure wasn’t as expected? Quickly run analysis on casing setting depths, kick calculations, relief well analysis
• Higher friction than expected? Automatically run worst case scenarios with time and depths curves updated
• No time for premium completions? Click a button, and get the screens solutions mapped out
• How does the casing setting depths affect the P&A program? Let the big data work out your barrier diagrams, execution plans, and risk matrix

As you probably imagine, big data is here to help us, and we have all the tools to move on this opportunity. If you need help getting to the next level, well there are many out there who can help. Just google “higher precision wells” or look for tutorials on how to make your own software that puts your experience into big data for you.

A Little Extra at the Gate

And as a last point of advice, remember that how you connect the dots in the well plan is your knowledge, make sure your best experience transfers into your digital planning. The organization best set up for combining data science with engineering will win the big race.

Suggested Further Reading Since You Liked This

Are you setting ambitious goals for drilling and well operations?

We made it to TD (bottom of the well) within budget. A work process which let your organization accumulate experience and let your data populate decision is what we should all aim for with digital well planning. That way you will control and apply all your experience to every step of the operation.