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Event
SPE Permian Basin - Section Meeting - October 15, 2018
Petroleum Club of Midland
October 15, 2018
11:30am to 1:00pm
DISTINGUISHED LECTURER
"Well Collision Avoidance The Way Forward"
Steve Sawaryn
Abstract
The consequences of an unplanned intersection with an existing well can range from financial loss to a catastrophic blow-out and loss of life. The process of well collision avoidance involves rules that determine the allowable well separation, the management of the associated directional planning and surveying activities and assurance and verification. The adoption of a particular minimum allowable separation rule, no matter how conservative, does not ensure an acceptably low probability of collision. Many other factors contribute, such as the level of compliance by office and rig personnel with collision avoidance procedures, and the completeness and correctness of the directional database. All these factors are connected.
This is not a new subject, but current guidance is disparate, company specific and occasionally contradictory. As a result, the guidance can be difficult to understand and implement. Standardisation is required. This standardisation has been the goal of the SPE Wellbore Positioning Technical Section (WPTS). The resulting recommendations are a culmination of the work and consensus of industry experts from both operators and service companies.The effects of a standardised separation rule and attendant practices are far reaching. They influence slot separations, trajectories, drilling practices, surveying programme and well shut-in, with commercial as well as HSE implications.
Although collisions are rare, investigation of 19 anonymous collision events suggests they occur more frequently than formal accounts would lead us to believe. Common themes across these events can be identified and these lead to a conclusion that all such collisions are avoidable.
Bio
Steve Sawaryn is an independent drilling engineering consultant specialising in drilling systems. During the previous 35 years he held a variety of national and international posts in BPs Drilling Engineering Division in drilling operations, consultancy and projects. He is also a chartered engineer and fellow of the British Computer Soc. Sawaryn holds PhD and M.A. degrees from Cambridge U. He has authored more than 35 SPE papers and has served on a number of SPE committees. He received the 2010 SPE North-Sea Region Technical Award for Drilling Engineering and now chairs the SPE Wellbore Positioning Technical Section Collision Avoidance sub-committee.
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LocationMidland Petroleum Club (View)
501 W Wall St
Midland, TX 79701
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: Yes! |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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