Extended Reach Drilling: Managing Networking, Guidelines, and Lessons Learned

During the last two years, BP Exploration developed a plan to assure all aspects of Extended Reach Drilling (ERD) opportunities were understood by business units (Assets). A global network of personnel involved in both ERD operations and technology support pursued a structured approach to enhance ERD option selection, well planning, well construction, and performance measures. This led to a successful initiative to develop a comprehensive set of ERD Guidelines. Experiences from operations worldwide are included in sections ranging from drilling fluids to stuck pipe prevention. The versatility of the Guidelines was in part attributed to its electronic distribution, available either through local network servers or through the company's intranet. The ERD guidelines focus on well design, planning, and operations. For engineers in the Assets, the guidelines and information provide a basis for determining what is possible. Well planning is an iterative process to determine the optimal mix of rig equipment, fluid and tubular requirements, drillstring design, and so on. The strategy behind the information in the Guidelines and the transfer of best practices by the BP Exploration ERD Network was to support an iterative process by which learning would take place and performance improved. Thus the Extended Reach Drilling Network has provided a method by which ERD achievements and lessons learned are consolidated, and the information necessary for Assets to identify opportunities are available.