Quantification of Our Carbon Footprint while Drilling

Abstract

Reducing our operating carbon dioxide emissions is a critical step in mitigating the impact of our well construction operations. In order to bring a quantifiable benefit, we need a starting point. We need to measure our current emissions and identify the main drivers for the footprint. We can then identify best practices to reduce the impact and quantify how changing our drilling systems can reduce the CO2 generation. Analysing the data available from two modern rigs we have measured the CO2 released for drilling different wells in different basins. We have also segmented the emissions by the rig systems using the power they consume. We show that the mud pumps are the biggest culprit for the CO2 release. The top drive draws less power; and while the draw works have a very high-power capacity, they only draw this for a very short period so overall their footprint is much less significant. In order to make this work relevant for more than a small number of high specification modern rigs, we have built and validated an emissions model. Whereby we can calculate the CO2 released from measurements of the surface drilling parameters. As such, in real time we can generate a carbon emissions log quantifying the footprint and the split to major systems on any rig where we have access to these surface data. Using the same model, integrated with our well planning processes, we can accurately predict the footprint from a particular well construction scenario and quantify the benefits which changes to the BHA, the drilling practices or the well design would bring. In the same manner, based solely on the surface drilling data, we can compare the environmental impact of all of our drilling operations at the same granularity we record the rig data. This lets us identify opportunities to reduce emissions and less efficient operations rapidly.