I R I S A N S A T T E
firmapost@iris.no Home
 


Drilling & Well Technology
The high cost and increasing complexity of drilling operations are two dominant challenges/constraints on field development within the oil and gas industry, CO2 storage and geothermal energy. IRIS is a provider of technology to meet these challenges: We offer tools to improve the quality of the drilling operation both in the planning phase and during the operation.

IRIS considers Automated Drilling to have a large potential and has the ambition to be among the best research institutes within this area. Methodologies and procedures are developed focusing on more automatic drilling procedures such as automated drilling surveillance and system for active failure prevention. Further efforts will be put into presentation and
evaluation of algorithms for automated co-ordinated control of drilling machinery, pump rates, chokes and drilling fluid properties.

Fundamental research in the drilling process is performed, within the areas of well flow and wellbore mechanics. The development of highly accurate process models is achieved through advanced physical and mathematical modelling, combined with experiments and tests carried out in the laboratory, in the Virtual Rig and at full scale both in the field and at the Ullrigg Drilling and Well Centre.

Risk management
The successful execution of drilling and well operations depends on the effective management of the substantial uncertainties related to; formation parameters, downhole conditions, reliability of equipment and the effect of critical sub-operations. During drilling, the choice of method based on such uncertainties will influence the probability of undesirable events occurring such as delays, increased completion costs, stuck pipe, formation damage, well collapse, kick, or even a blow-out.

In relation to planning of new well prospects, IRIS performs risk analysis studies related to
quantification of kick, well control and blowout risks. These studies are often supported with advanced well control simulations focusing on hydraulics, surge/swab effects, modelling of different kick scenarios and simulation of different well control methods.

Print page