Gazprom Nedra Has Patented a New Method Designed to Improve Well Construction
Gazprom Nedra LLC has obtained a patent to conceive and develop a pilot drilling method for offshore pilot boreholes. This method is designed to be used for preparing drilling exploration and appraisal wells at a prospective subsoil plot or field, and production wells using a mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU).
In line with the terms of the patent, the construction time of these wells can be improved by drilling pilot boreholes using cheaper geotechnical equipment. This later eliminates the need for a MODU to drill a pilot borehole as part of the deep well construction process.
Economic calculations provided by the developers of this engineering process estimate that the cost of constructing pilot boreholes using this geotechnical equipment is more than 25% lower against the drilling costs incurred when using a MODU.
This new method equally allows for comprehensive sets of data to be obtained during the engineering survey process, generating a higher-quality model of the top cross section. This new technology significantly reduces the risk of accidents and incidents associated with encountering shallow, abnormally high-pressure accumulations of gas that can occur when drilling deep offshore wells.
Over the period from 2021–2022, Gazprom Nedra LLC, under the instruction and supervision of PJSC Gazprom Department (S. N. Menshikov), successfully deployed this innovative technology to drill pilot boreholes for offshore exploration wells on the Arctic shelf of the Kara and Barentsev Seas.
Intensifying offshore geological exploration on the Russian Federation Arctic Shelf by ensuring that as much research as possible is conducted during the short shipping season and thereby curbing the costs of drilling deep exploration wells remains one of the most important objectives in terms of restoring the PJSC Gazprom mineral resource base.
Aleksey Ovechkin, the General Director of Gazprom Nedra LLC, pointed out, “The new method aimed at improving well construction will make it possible to cut the financial costs incurred by geological exploration and make the development of marine fields more attractive for investors.”
Reference
Gazprom Nedra LLC is a 100 % subsidiary company of PAO Gazprom and ranks among the major Russian multi-business oil and gas service companies. In 2019 Company production potential was expanded due to integration of Gazprom Georesurs LLC and Gazprom Geologorazvedka LLC assets.
The Company carries out a complete centrally managed cycle of exploration works in the RF and provides its clients with a wide range of unique geophysical and geoengineering services.
Gazprom Nedra LLC is the main source of Gazprom Group geophysical data in the sphere of raw materials production, reduction of operational expenses and geophysical activities efficiency evaluation, calculation of gas deposit and storage reserves, and environmental safety assurance.
Company subdivisions are located in all gas producing regions of Russia. Its staff totals over 4,500 people. Company administration offices are located in Moscow and Tyumen. The Company uses a quality management system based on the GOST ISO 9001 standard, a health and safety management system in accordance with ISO45001 and an environmental management system which meets the requirements of the international standard ISO 14001:2015 (GOST R ISO 14001).