Courtesy of salympetroleum.com

SPD tested application of pitless drilling model at the Salym group of oil fields. Technology like this makes it possible to reduce adverse environmental effect and optimize well pad construction costs through reducing their area and drilling waste volume. According to the pilot project results at Upper Salym, transition to the new method will make it possible for SPD to reduce well pad size by one-third, and total drilling waste volume by 30% with subsequent reduction up to 50%.

“Within the scope of the pilot project we reduced the cost of well pad construction and related oilfield services by 10%. Thus, application of pitless drilling makes it possible for our company not just to make a substantial contribution to preservation of Salym land’s fragile ecosystem but also continue to actively work on operating expenses optimization and operating efficiency enhancement,” said Alexey Govzich, SPD CEO.

Traditionally at well construction drilling waste are stored at a large tank called a mud pit, within pitless drilling model the company processes at the site and uses drilling waste as construction materials for new well pads.

In the course of pitless drilling technology testing SPD studied specific technical and process features, evaluated its economic efficiency and work performance safety with the new method. A meaningful result of the experiment is the experience in drilling waste management with their 24 hour accounting by the type and specification. Thus, over the time of pilot testing the company processed to building material and re-used over 1,600m3 of drilling waste. The company’s new approach to waste management did not adversely affect well construction timeframe and quality.

Salym Petroleum Development N.V. (SPD) is a Joint Venture set up in 1996 with a view to develop the Salym group of oilfields in Western Siberia. SPD shareholders on a 50:50 basis are Shell Salym Development B.V. and Gazprom Neft.

Source: salympetroleum.com