Drilling optimization project
Client: Pan American Energy LLC, sucursal Argentina (PAE).
PAE is a joint venture between Bridas Corp (40%) and BP Exploration (60%); it is the first private E&P company in Argentina.
Field: Lindero Atravesado, Neuquén
Scope of work: optimization of drilling operations carried out by 4 1500 HP rigs, with more tan 100 wells planned.
Objective: Help to reduce drilling time and cost by 20-40%, and maintain a sustained excellent performance.
Characteristics of the area: These Wells are drilled through medium hard to hard rock, with total depth of 4,300 -4,500 m (14,100 – 14,800 ft); the objective is to Access Non conventional gas reservoirs - Tight Gas, which are deeper than Vaca Muerta formation. The wells are completed with tubing less, and several hydraulics fractures are performed to produce the gas.
The Challenge: Currently, it is a big challenge to get equipment, materials and people available in Argentina. Due to the fast start-up of the project, PAE has conformed rapidly very young working teams to manage activity of the drilling rigs, dealing with the restrictions on equipment and services originated by the growing operations in the Non Conventional reservoirs in the area.
Results: Very good! It has have helped the client to reduce the drlling times and consolidate its drilling practices as well as to try new technology. PAE has requested to VARTECH to start to work in a similar project in Comodoro Rivadavia, GSJ (heavy oil, brown field) , and to provide specialized drilling engineering support for wells in the Tarija Basin (northern part of Argentina).