SPE 184730-MS
Well Collision Avoidance
Management and Principles
S.J. Sawaryn, Consultant
On behalf of the SPE Wellbore Positioning Technical Section (WPTS) Collision Avoidance Sub-Committee
also referred to as ISCWSA
Slide 2
Introduction – Well Collision Avoidance
• Not a new subject, but
• Current guidance Nomenclature:
Disparate
Company specific Reference Well:
Occasionally contradictory
The well being drilled
• Goal: Standardise
Rules
Process Offset Wells:
Nomenclature Adjacent wells
Improve efficiency
Reduce implementation errors
Input to API RP78 development
SPE/IADC Drilling
Conference and Exhibition SPE 184730-MS• Well Collision Avoidance – Management and Practices• S.J. Sawaryn
Slide 3
Well Collision Avoidance
“The adoption of a particular
minimum allowable
separation rule, no matter Management Minimum
how conservative, does not & Separation
ensure an acceptably low Practices Rule
probability of collision”
SPE/IADC Drilling
Conference and Exhibition SPE 184730-MS• Well Collision Avoidance – Management and Practices• S.J. Sawaryn
Slide 4
Offset Well Risk Classification
HSE Risk Well Non-HSE Risk Well
Collision with it could result in an Can be addressed solely in financial
uncontrolled release of material: terms
Hydrocarbons
Chemical (e.g. H2S)
Nuclear (e.g. radioactive material)
Biological
Physical (e.g. geothermal)
or undermine facilities. (e.g. working
mines, piles)
Does not have to be at surface: • Temporal risks - damage after the collision
Sub-surface blowouts • Remediation (access and time)
Sub-sea releases
SPE/IADC Drilling
Conference and Exhibition SPE 184730-MS• Well Collision Avoidance – Management and Practices• S.J. Sawaryn
Slide 5
Well Collision Frequency
Date No.* Collision
Probability
1970-1980 3 1/2150
Why the interest?
1980-1998 1 1/16330
*Offshore North Sea, GOM and Canada – uncontrolled flow to surface
• Unreported incidents?
• Land based drilling activity increased • No uncontrolled flow?
• Drilling pads • Changes in industry practices?
• Closer well spacing
• Conductor sharing
• Additional slots
• Poorly surveyed old well stock
SPE/IADC Drilling
Conference and Exhibition SPE 184730-MS• Well Collision Avoidance – Management and Practices• S.J. Sawaryn
Slide 6
Well Collision Example
Case Description Cause Avoiding Action
18* Offshore: Whilst drilling a fast ROP top Failure to plot, Adhere to
hole section with a recognised collision and manage required
risk, the well built angle faster thanHuman Factors
anomalous practices, after
expected. The first few MWD surveys readings.
Risk habituation? each survey and
failed QA\QC due to suspected magnetic project ahead.
interference. The rig crew rejected them
entirely and continued to drill blind. They
One-Column
drilled into an offset well causing a kick, Format• Collisions are still relatively rare
throwing the drillstring out of the hole. • But less so than indicated
When investigated, plotting the rejected • Major influence is well density
• Industry trends ... added care
MWD surveys showed the well heading
straight towards the offset …
* One of 19 HSE and Non-HSE incidents recorded over the last 15 years
SPE/IADC Drilling
Conference and Exhibition SPE 184730-MS• Well Collision Avoidance – Management and Practices• S.J. Sawaryn
Slide 7
Leading Indicators
% of wells for which exemptions
are required
Helps detect “weak signals”
Poedjono et. al. 2009
SPE/IADC Drilling
Conference and Exhibition SPE 184730-MS• Well Collision Avoidance – Management and Practices• S.J. Sawaryn
Slide 8
The Collision Avoidance Elements
Management ElementSeparation Factor (SF) No.
Dimensionless number Cases
Effective
Communication
Data Structure Critical condition
Data structure integrity SF = 1 4
Integrity
Topic elaborated on in the 2nd paper
Quality Position Position uncertainty -
Assurance Uncertainty
Minimum
Allowable Well reference point 1
Separation
Distance
Wellbore survey program -
Wellbore MASD Well
Survey Reference Collision avoidance management 9
Operations Point
Collision Wellbore
Avoidance Survey
Wellbore survey operations 1
Management Program
Quality assurance -
Principles Effective communication 3
SPE/IADC Drilling
Conference and Exhibition SPE 184730-MS• Well Collision Avoidance – Management and Practices• S.J. Sawaryn
Slide 9
Typical MASD Dispensations
Proposed Mitigation
• Effectiveness not predictable Multiple casing strings protecting the tubing
• Energy still being put in Jetting instead of drilling
• Penetration always possible Rotary drilling instead of motor drilling
• Penetration can be rapid Drilling with a mill-tooth bit instead of a PDC bit
Drilling with a dull or “shirt tail” bit
Drilling with low ROP
Acceptable mitigations are
Monitoring the shakers for cement/steel
those which reliably preserve
Monitoring offset wellhead vibration
the relative well separation
Monitoring offset casing annular pressure
and so reduce the probability
of well to well contact Low angle of incidence between wells
Soft formation
SPE/IADC Drilling
Conference and Exhibition SPE 184730-MS• Well Collision Avoidance – Management and Practices• S.J. Sawaryn
Slide 10
Graphical Representation of Well Separation – Travelling Cylinder
• Simplest, documented method
• Key device to show tolerances
• Support plan review and approval
• Monitor progress / project ahead
• Assess closure between wells
• Shared situational awareness
• Training essential for its use
• Scan down the OFFSET well
• Orthogonal and end-to-end cases?
• Short radius drilling? North referenced, normal plane
travelling cylinder diagram
SPE/IADC Drilling
Conference and Exhibition SPE 184730-MS• Well Collision Avoidance – Management and Practices• S.J. Sawaryn
Slide 11
Graphical Representation of Well Separation – 3D Ladder Plot
Well: Ref1 - 3D Ladder Plotl
Well 1
• Shows each well’s MASD
Well 2
Well 3
• Not direction specific
Well 6
Well 4
Well 5
• Magnetic interference zone
Well 7
Equivalent Magnetic
Distance Line
SPE/IADC Drilling
Conference and Exhibition SPE 184730-MS• Well Collision Avoidance – Management and Practices• S.J. Sawaryn
Slide 12
Planning Phase Workflow
Start Plan Engineered
Well Path A
Complete set of
wellbores
Select & Classify
All Appropriate
Offsets
B
Offset Well
Wellbore
Proximity
C
Classification
Analysis
Manage Allowable Deviation
• Re-plan Well Path
• Revise Survey Program
•
•
Resurvey Offset Well
Resurvey Relative Wellhead SF Consider F
Use of SSSVs
Construct E
Position Acceptable D Operations
Tolerance Lines
And / Or ? Yes Improvements
No
• Re-evaluate Offset Well
•
•
Classification
Consider Ranging
Other Compliant Options
H Control Well Plan
Operational
Revision and
Prepare to
Execute Plan G
improvements (F) can
Unable to not alter the conditions
Change
Possible? J
Create
Allowable End End or assumptions on
Yes No Well Path K
which the scan is based
SPE/IADC Drilling
Conference and Exhibition SPE 184730-MS• Well Collision Avoidance – Management and Practices• S.J. Sawaryn
Slide 13
Execution Phase Workflow
Confirm Preconditions
• Offset Status per Classification A
Start •
•
Approved Well Plan Revision
Operational Conformance as per
Plan Preconditions met
Acquire and QC
Directional Survey
B
Measurement per Survey
Program B, C, D, E, F, I Loop
Calculate Position
• Project to Bit C
• Project Ahead
According to AC Plan Stop Drilling
Accepta
Wellbore Drill Ahead to
At E ble to
Stop Drilling D Proximity F Next Survey
Yes
TD?
No
Analysis
Drill
Ahead? Yes Point I Identify situations where
End
No the reference well is
Can
Adjust ? G drilled significantly
Yes
No
off-plan
Stop Drilling
Refer to Planning
Phase
H End
SPE/IADC Drilling
Conference and Exhibition SPE 184730-MS• Well Collision Avoidance – Management and Practices• S.J. Sawaryn
Slide 14
Conclusions
• Well collisions remain an operational risk onshore and offshore
• Rigorous application of the Elements will help avoid collisions
• Collisions: Data, Collision Avoidance Management, Communication
• Risk habituation has played a significant part in a number of these
• Remediation costs for non-HSE collisions generally higher than plan
• Analysis of collisions difficult (infrequent, reluctance to share data)
• Further work: barrier management / measure well to well separation
SPE/IADC Drilling
Conference and Exhibition SPE 184730-MS• Well Collision Avoidance – Management and Practices• S.J. Sawaryn
Slide 15
Acknowledgements / Questions
The efforts and contributions to this paper made by the officers of the SPE
Wellbore Positioning Technical Section (WPTS), the members of the
Collision Avoidance Sub-Committee and the generosity of the member’s
respective companies for supporting their participation and attendance at
meetings are gratefully acknowledged.
