Baker Hughes service boosts efficiency and drilling economics

Baker Hughes has announced the commercial release of its WellLink™ Performance service, designed to help operators reduce invisible lost time (ILT) by transforming the complex data buried within legacy applications, drilling reporting systems and data streams into real-time information that is instantly accessible and actionable. Using this information, operators can improve drilling economics by quickly identifying, investigating and mitigating common performance issues associated with drilling processes such as connection procedures, circulating times and tripping speed – inefficiencies which can account for as much as 30% of normal uptime activities.

Delivered via a software-as-a-service model, the WellLink Performance service enables drilling teams to identify these inefficiencies immediately by analysing historic and real time wellsite data and comparing those data to planned, benchmark and offset data. The teams also can seamlessly identify and investigate ILT root causes on a degree much more granular than with common manual methods by reviewing charts that compare depth versus days drilled and activity analysis graphs and reports in real time. Key performance indicator alarms and dashboards help operators take proactive actions to improve ILT-related issues and monitor these actions in real time for continuous improvement across operations.

“Although ILT is a critical performance indicator, the manual processes commonly used to capture relative data points and calculate results have not given operators the real time, accurate information they need,” said Celestine Vettical, Vice President, Remote Operations Services Products and Technology at Baker Hughes. "The WellLink Performance service uses the latest in digital technology to help operators understand performance gaps, accelerate critical decision making and ultimately reduce well construction costs.”

The service also is compatible with the company’s SIGNALS™ Drilling Advisory service, which combines the WellLink software with remotely-located Baker Hughes personnel, who are available 24-7 to critically analyse and interpret the data sets. Through this analysis, the experts can identify opportunities to further reduce ILT during the drilling process.

“The WellLink Performance service provides us with valuable insights into the viability and impact of our drilling programs,” said Tom Thissen, Vice President, Drilling Services at Baker Hughes. “Further benefits can be realised by combing the software with our SIGNALS Drilling Advisory service to provide operators with expert insight and interpretation of operational inefficiencies to further improve efficiency and economics.”

The WellLink Performance service is the latest example of Baker Hughes’ strategy to improve well efficiency, optimise production and increase ultimate recovery.

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/drilling-and-production/22062016/baker-hughes-service-boosts-efficiency-and-drilling-economics/