Proven Commercial Implementation of Second-Generation Integrated Remote Drilling Operations Center
Eugene Nathan, Jan Ove Dagestad, Trond Lilleng, Thomas Pedersen · 2006
Abstract One recent management trend is the establishment of onshore operations centers by oilfield operators that are currently developing offshore assets. Unfortunately, the formation of such a center has typically been a niche activity within many companies and, as a result, some may fail to consider the lessons learned from earlier operation center failures. It is also vital that those attempting to develop such a center make sure the center's purpose functions within the industry's overall framework. While these centers have often delivered, with varying degrees of success, on their anticipated benefits such as faster decision-cycle time, better, more informed decisions and reduced POB, robust business and organizational models are necessary to ensure these efforts' long-term viability. As part of a long-established business partnership, Norsk Hydro and Baker Hughes INTEQ have recently implemented changes to the industry's longest continuously running remote drilling operations center. Supporting some of the Norwegian Continental Shelf's most technologically challenging drilling operations, the center is contributing to improved financial performance, reduced POB, enhanced service quality and supporting work process changes within both organisations. The revised model has been implemented as the ‘normal’ service delivery channel for five drilling operations supported by the BEACON center on a 24/7 basis and routinely operate advanced technologies such as formation pressure testing while drilling, deep reading resisitivity and azimuthal imaging services. This paper will outline the technical and commercial models that have been developed, provide insight to the challenges encountered and achieved successes.