1 March 2002
With oil wells, does history repeat itself?
Research Triangle Park, N.C.—With petroleum resources starting to dwindle around the globe, the quality of the oil well has become a factor in successful production.
To meet rising demand from oil companies for efficient wells, scientists at CSIRO, a Perth, Australia-based scientific research agency, are developing an advanced analysis and design tool to handle well completions and workover operations.
To create the tool, however, CSIRO used its Genesis software package for drilling analysis and well design, which captures technical and financial knowledge from previous drillings so users can plan more productive wells in similar areas.
Genesis consists of two elements: the analyzer, which explores all available data about previous wells in the area, and the designer, which uses that information to optimize the design of the new well and evaluate its time and cost uncertainties.
"The advantage of this approach is its ability to take advantage of all the historical experience gathered in drilling previous wells, to minimize the risks and costs in the new well," said team leader Dr. Edson Nakagawa.
Read questions answered by our experts or join the email list.
