Continual Bit Design Evolution Improves Performance in the Skinner Ridge Field - Piceance Basin

摘要

The Piceance Basin is one of several unconventional gas resources that have been the subject of intense industry activity throughout onshore North America. Due to challenged Rocky Mountain natural gas prices and a recent high cost environment, drilling and completing wells quickly and inexpensively is crucial to managing the economic conditions in Chevron’s Skinner Ridge Field development in western Colorado. A focused effort on continual improvement has been employed by the Chevron Piceance Drilling Team to maximize drilling efficiency. In terms of drilling performance, an obvious method to reduce drilling time and cost is to physically drill faster by achieving increased drill bit rate of penetration (ROP) without compromising bit reliability. The following paper summarizes performance improvements achieved through numerous bits trials, dull bit grading analyses and design iterations through a process of application design engineering at the supplier/customer interface. The result has been a step change in drill bit performance exhibited by the continual increase in average 7-7/8 inch bit ROP: from 45 ft/hr during the initial delineation program to 184 ft/hr on the most recent development well pad. Based on this demonstrated performance, the bit designs and cutter technologies have been transferred to other operations, showing that the application of this design approach provides practical means of maximizing efficiency.