DOE has a long history of investment in drilling research. For example, since DOE supported pioneering efforts on measurement-while-drilling (MWD) in the 1970s, this technology has revolutionized drilling operations.
The first system to transmit drill bit location by sending pressure pulses through drilling mud was developed by DOE and Teleco, Inc. Today, this mud pulse telemetry has become standard in the industry, saving hundreds of millions of dollars in time and labor.
In 1992, the Department reorganized the oil and gas program to make it more accessible to its stakeholders and to stimulate more joint projects with them. Since then, a number of notable contributions have been made, contributions that would not have been possible without the support of DOE. Examples are:
the near-bit sensor, which has made it possible to acquire data from immediately behind the drill bit;
carbon dioxide/sand fracturing stimulation, making it possible to stimulate the formation using the liquid phase of the gas as a carrier fluid, and then recovering it in the gaseous phase; and
air motors, based on DOE horizontal drilling technology, that are now being used for most new wells drilled in eastern U.S. gas formations. In the next millennium, the program will continue to make strategic investments in a portfolio of projects that are focused on problems and challenges associated with the wellbore and the near-wellbore region.
The Department will focus on making the strategic investments needed to enhance U.S. leadership in the development of "smart wells," such as:
"zero footprint" drilling technologies,
"rig-less" drilling,
"self-drilling" well technology,
"designer" stimulation technology, and
"single well drainage" capabilities.
Drilling Faster... This program element addresses the need for increased efficiency during the drilling phase of energy production. Recognizing that drilling rig time is the most expensive part of operation (30 to 35 percent), the objective then becomes to increase the efficiency with which the well is drilled.
This can involve reductions in equipment failure, extension of drill bit life, and reaching the target zone with the fewest number of course corrections possible. This can also involve efficiencies related to production equipment and waste management.
Drilling Deeper...This aspect of the program addresses the varied and complex geologic environments that exist and affect the drilling phase. Drilling into these environments requires unique drilling strategies that use the specific characteristics of the geologic formation itself to assist in generating a hole.
An example of this is the deeper, harder rock formations that contain natural gas. For those formations, the most efficient strategy is to focus on the brittle nature of the rock itself. When hit or hammered, this rock will break into large chips. This is a more effective drilling strategy than to crush and grind the rock into powder, as would be done using conventional roller cone bits.
Other formations are sensitive to the type of drilling fluid used. In these cases, the best strategy is to use air as the drilling medium.Drilling Cheaper...There is still no substitute for drilling, at least, not yet. The goal, therefore, is to develop technology that will allow the most "cost-effective" drilling.
Costs are measured in terms of the least impact on the environment, the longevity of the wellbore and all its components, and the long-term productivity of the wellbore. This means drilling a well with mechanical longevity that does not inhibit the entry of fluids from the reservoir, and that is placed at the precise location needed to achieve the ultimate recovery of oil and gas from a particular type of reservoir.
Drilling Cleaner... Another special focus of the program is minimizing the environmental impact of drilling activities. This can range from reducing the amount of surface disturbance that results from the drilling phase of energy production, to dealing with the final disposition of used drilling fluids, drill cuttings, and other waste generated by drilling activities.
The use of small bore "slimhole" wells has led to a 75 percent reduction in the amount of surface disturbed and the amount of waste generated. Operating costs are also reduced by up to 50 percent. Furthermore, reduced volume and weight of equipment favors slimhole drilling use in sensitive environments, such as wetlands.
The goal is to develop drilling technologies that are nvironmentally "neutral," or even "friendly." After all, the drilling cuttings that are excavated from the well are natural materials, and the fluids used in the drilling process must be compatible with the rock to result in a productive well with a long life. Therefore, the basic elements for environmentally benign drilling technologies already are present.
Drilling for the 21st Century... Finally, there is a need for highly futuristic technologies that would enable drilling without drilling rigs – systems that would have no "footprint." Also, there is a need for drilling systems that anticipate problems and apply the self-correcting adjustments needed to precisely place the wellbore, and that would enable the drilling process to be conducted from an office setting, instead of from a wellsite operation.
Recently, the National Aeronautical and Space Administration, has expressed interest in exploring if a habitable zone for micro-organisms exists under the surface of Mars. To answer this and other questions will require advanced drilling technologies that must withstand the extreme temperatures and remote location, be cost-efficient, and not impact the surface of the planet. Advanced technology that addresses these issues on Mars will also benefit drilling on Earth.
Laser drilling is another possible area of interest. Currently, the Gas Research Institute is studying the feasibility of adapting high-power laser technology, developed by the military for national defense, to drilling for oil and gas.
GRI’s initial goals are to establish a scientific basis for developing a commercial laser drilling system, and to determine the level of industry interest in pursuing future research. If sufficient industry interest is demonstrated, DOE also will consider a strategic investment in this emerging area.
Source:United States Energy Information Administration.
