What techniques can you use to reduce non-productive time during drilling and completion engineering?

1 Plan ahead

One of the most effective ways to reduce NPT is to plan ahead and anticipate the potential problems that may arise during the drilling and completion phases. This involves conducting a thorough analysis of the well objectives, the reservoir characteristics, the drilling and completion equipment, and the operational procedures. By doing so, you can identify the critical risks and uncertainties, and design contingency plans and mitigation strategies. You can also optimize the well design and the selection of the drilling and completion tools and fluids, to minimize the chances of encountering technical issues or formation damage.

2 Monitor and control

Another technique to reduce NPT is to monitor and control the drilling and completion operations in real time, using advanced sensors, data acquisition systems, and software applications. By collecting and analyzing the data from the wellbore, the surface, and the subsurface, you can detect any deviations or anomalies that may indicate a potential problem, such as a kick, a loss of circulation, a stuck pipe, or a formation breakdown. You can also adjust the drilling and completion parameters, such as the weight on bit, the flow rate, the pressure, and the direction, to optimize the performance and avoid unnecessary delays or interventions.

3 Train and communicate

A third technique to reduce NPT is to train and communicate with the drilling and completion personnel, both on-site and off-site, to ensure that they have the required skills, knowledge, and awareness to perform their tasks efficiently and safely. You can provide regular training sessions, workshops, and simulations, to enhance their technical and operational competencies, as well as their problem-solving and decision-making abilities. You can also establish clear and effective communication channels and protocols, to facilitate the coordination and collaboration among the different teams and stakeholders involved in the drilling and completion project.

4 Learn and improve

A fourth technique to reduce NPT is to learn and improve from the past and current experiences, both within your own organization and across the industry. You can conduct post-mortem analyses and audits, to evaluate the performance and outcomes of the drilling and completion operations, and identify the root causes and lessons learned from the NPT events. You can also benchmark and share best practices and innovations, to adopt the proven and successful methods and technologies that can enhance the reliability and productivity of your drilling and completion processes.

5 Prevent and maintain

A fifth technique to reduce NPT is to prevent and maintain the drilling and completion equipment and systems, to ensure that they are in good working condition and ready for use. You can implement preventive maintenance programs and schedules, to inspect, test, and repair the equipment and systems before, during, and after the drilling and completion operations. You can also use predictive maintenance techniques, such as condition monitoring and failure analysis, to anticipate and prevent the equipment and system failures that may cause NPT or accidents.

6 Innovate and automate

A sixth technique to reduce NPT is to innovate and automate the drilling and completion operations, to increase the accuracy, speed, and safety of the processes. You can adopt new and emerging technologies and solutions, such as directional drilling, managed pressure drilling, intelligent completions, or digital twins, to overcome the technical and operational challenges and optimize the well performance and recovery. You can also use automation and robotics, such as automated pipe handling, drilling control systems, or downhole tools, to reduce the human intervention and error, and improve the consistency and quality of the operations.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?