Tripping Optimization to Promote Flat Time Reduction in Oil and Gas Well Drilling Operations

Tripping, relating to oil and gas drilling operations, is a term used to describe running in or pulling out tubulars into or from an already drilled borehole. It is common to all well delivery operations in the oil and gas industry, including drilling, completions, work-over, and abandonment. Besides drilling a well that meets technical specifications in a safe manner and within the approved budget, well delivery success is not achieved if the specified time is exceeded. Time is an essential factor as it also has a large influence on cost. Well delivery time could be classified as either drilling time (time allotted to activities where the well depth increases with time) or flat time (time allotted to activities that do not directly contribute to an increase in well depth). Flat time reduction is a key strategy used to reduce oil and gas well delivery costs. This is applicable in drilling operations, specifically where well cost is directly proportional to time. There is ample room for drilling performance improvement by reducing flat time without eroding well quality. Oil and gas well delivery performance engineers are, therefore, constantly seeking ways to reduce flat time to the barest minimum. Tripping optimization refers to the application of specific methods aimed at preventing technical issues while tripping and reducing tripping time. Tripping is one of the major contributors to flat time, with typically circa 8 to 10% of planned tripping time (exclusive of casing and completion running time) in drilling operations. This means tripping optimization has a direct effect on flat time reduction and, by extension, well cost reduction. This article discusses various tripping optimization techniques and how they promote flat time reduction in oil and gas well drilling operations. It emphasizes how drilling operations can be more time-efficient and consequently cost-efficient by improved tripping practices.