eDrilling: Study shows value of digital twins in well construction, drilling operations

eDrilling has announced the results of a study researching the value of using digital twins in well construction and drilling operations.

The company researched 60+ wells where eDrilling’s digital twin technologies were used in preparation for a well, automated monitoring of a well and real-time optimization of a well – or a combination of all three.

Research found that these wells had no hazardous incidents nor any non-geological sidetracks, both key priorities and objectives for most E&P companies.

As the software detects anomalies at a very early stage, crews are provided diagnostics messages and notifications in good time to make the necessary adjustments.

“People and safety have always been our guiding principles when developing our software solutions, but our customers are also happy about ridding themselves of the considerable costs associated with having to do sidetracks,” Sven Inge Ødegaard, eDrilling’s Chief Operating Officer, said. “In our mind, digital twins represent the biggest opportunity available today for performance optimization, avoidance of NPT and hazard prevention in the oil and gas industry.”

eDrilling analyzed 60+ wells where eDrilling’s digital twin technologies had been actively utilized in preparation and/or operation and had correct and sufficient data to conclude the hypothesis. Thus, 40+ of the digital twins in the period were omitted, due to availability (contractual, geographical, policy) of data.

Sidetracks, or avoidance thereof, was the focal area of the study, although the study also found that there had been zero hazardous incidents on the 60+ wells analyzed.

Geological surprises as reason for having to do a sidetrack were omitted. Cuttings build up, collapse, washout, and packoff leading to plugging the well were included.

eDrilling has had 5,000+ participants drill well in simulator prior to operations, with 150+ well specific scenarios. Automated monitoring and real-time optimization is used in all drilling operations. This includes tripping, drilling, casing/liner operations and cementing. It is also used in advanced operations like managed pressure drilling and dual-gradient drilling.