CASE STUDY
Ecopetrol Saves USD 472,651 and Overcomes
Hole Instability in Chichimene Field, Colombia
Integrated casing-while-drilling operation achieves 72-ft/h on-bottom ROP
CHALLENGE
Improve drilling performance in 12-in
hole section despite hole instability issues
caused by depletion; set 95/8-in casing shoe in
formation base.
SOLUTION
Stabilize the wellbore using TDDirect CD*
casing-while-drilling service.
Drill the 121/4-in interval using a PDC bit
from Smith Bits, PowerDrive X6* 675 RSS,
and OnGauge* torque-reduction sealed-
bearing roller reamer.
Customize the bit in IDEAS* integrated drillbit
design platform.
Use water-base mud (WBM) drilling fluids
from M-I SWACO.
RESULTS
Saved USD 472,651 drilling hole section to
TD and setting the casing shoe on target.
Achieved a maximum on-bottom ROP of
72 ft/h [22 m/h]; instantaneous ROP
reached a maximum of 300 ft/h [91 m/h]
in the top portion of the section.
Cured losses through the plastering effect
after experiencing a mud loss rate of
6080 bbl/h.
Drilled record-setting 6,462-ft [1,970-m] MD
with for TDDirect* casing-drilling and liner-
drilling technology in South America.
Increase ROP in highly depleted formation
with hole instability issues
As part of an ongoing drilling campaign in the Chichimene field in
Colombia, Ecopetrol planned to drill a well and needed to overcome hole
instability issues caused by depletion in this brownfield. As experienced 95/8-in casing
in offset wells, the field presents high risk for stuck pipe and lost-in-hole
events. Typically, these offset wells were drilled using conventional BHAs,
which required high flow rates to effectively clean the hole. It had also
become standard practice to perform a wiper trip in every section.
Wiper trips in the openhole section increase risk for stuck pipe incidents.
121/4-in
Ecopetrol wanted to avoid costly issues and increase ROP in the underreamer
12-in hole section of its directional well while reducing wiper trips and
eliminating conventional casing running issues and stuck pipe events.
Additionally, it was critical that the casing shoe be set at a specific depth
to isolate the limestone formation for this 6,462-ft hole section.
Use casing-while-drilling service to
stabilize hole and improve performance
Following a multisegment effort that included collaboration with OnGauge reamer
Ecopetrol, Schlumberger recommended TDDirect CD casing-while-drilling
service as part of an integrated solution to stabilize the hole and improve
performance. Using the TDDirect CD service would help
distribute weight on bit (WOB) more evenly by breaking static friction
with consistent casing rotation
improve borehole cleaning with rotation and high annular velocity
maximize borehole strength and stability from plastering effect.
To work in conjunction with TDDirect CD service, a retrievable BHA TeleScope
service
with an 8-in PDC bit to drill the pilot hole, PowerDrive X6 675 RSS for
directional control, and an 83/8-in OnGauge torque-reduction sealed-
bearing roller reamer in conjunction with a 12-in underreamer to open
the hole to 12 in was designed by Schlumberger. Using available data,
Smith Bits engineers customized the bit in the IDEAS integrated drillbit
design platform.
The TeleScope* high-speed telemetry-while-drilling service acquired
annular pressure data during drilling, which allowed Ecopetrol to better
understand the hydraulic behavior of the well and to maintain appropriate
dynamic conditions. M-I SWACO provided a WBM that optimized the PowerDrive X6
675 RSS
mud-weight curve. As a result, Ecopetrol was able to drill ahead using a
drilling fluid with 1 ppg less density than was required with conventional
drilling applications while maintaining good hole cleaning and hole
stability.
81/2-in Smith Bits
PDC bit
Drilling
 CASE STUDY: Integrated casing-while-drilling operation achieves 72 ft/h on-bottom ROP for Ecopetrol, Colombia

15 3.0

2,617,128
12.0

10.1 2,144,477
10 2.0

Cost, USD
Time, d

5 1.0

0 0
AFE Actual AFE Actual
The integrated casing-while-drilling solution saved Ecopetrol 1.9 days and USD 472,651 by effectively stabilizing the hole and improving ROP.

Saved USD 472,651 and achieved 72-ft/h average on-bottom ROP

This operation marked the first time that it used the OnGauge reamer, which was found to be
in good condition after the lengthy interval. Using the integrated casing-while-drilling solution,
Ecopetrol achieved an average on-bottom ROP of 72 ft/h overall and up to 300 ft/h in the top
section, saving 1.9 days and USD 472,651. Drilling in the Guayabo formation required a flowrate of
approximately 700 galUS/min. This enabled Ecopetrol to achieve a higher annular velocity than in
conventional drilling applications because the casing string features larger dimensions compared
with conventional drillpipe.

The 12-in hole section was successfully drilled from 1,083-ft [330-m] MD to TD at 7,545ft
[2,300m]MD. Lost circulation was experienced at 3,093-ft [943-m] MD with losses continuing for
the next 1,600 ft [488 m]. However, the plastering effect of TDDirect CD service cured the losses
and circulation was regained. The 6,462-ft MD section set a record for the longest hole section
ever drilled with TDDirect CD service in Colombia. Schlumberger also documented several areas
for improvement in future wells. As a result of this success, Ecopetrol plans to use this integrated
solution in its next well.

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