Modern-day drilling faces numerous challenges, particularly in complex, layered deep Middle Marrat formation with extremely variable reservoir properties, geomechanical stresses, and pore pressure anisotropy. These factors contribute to a narrow mud weight (MW) window and increased drilling risks, where any misstep can trigger a cascade of issues, potentially leading to losing wellbore or inability to reach designated geological targets. Therefore, it is crucial to leverage all available data sources—such as Logging While Drilling (LWD), Geophysics, 3D geological and 1D/3D geomechanical models, offset well data and of course Surface logging (Mud logging) to facilitate efficient and safer drilling operations. Surface logging solutions have rapidly advanced, offering multiple insights during drilling and formation evaluation stages, often serving as a reliable data source when LWD fails due to clean carbonate environment or absence of data due to technical issues. Modern services can accurately describe the rock lithological components via X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), as well as provide calculated Gamma Ray (GR) curves, aiding in reservoir formations correlation and enabling the early well TD detection. Technologies such as advanced flowmeter help identify naturally fractured zones, faults, permeable matrix zones, and detect kick/loss zones in real-time, making it a cost-effective substitute for high-resolution LWD imagers. In deviated and highly deviated wells, hole cleaning and stability are paramount. Cutting volume Monitoring (CVM) is instrumental in preventing and identifying drilling problems, such as stuck pipes due to poor hole cleaning or hole instability due to narrow MW windows. Advanced gas analysis (C1-C8) enhances fluid typing, oil-water contact identification, and finally, Pyrolysis for bitumen identification. Integrating these services into a single, continuously updated digital environment is essential for successful drilling supervision. This integrated approach supports a multidisciplinary decision-making workflow. By combining real-time geological and geochemical analysis of all available geophysical and surface logging data, it is possible to update well correlation daily in near real-time. Additionally, it allows the analysis of cavings' shape and lithology for early risk warning and reporting, real-time modification of MW and drilling plans. The key advantage lies in optimizing the decision- making process and providing valuable information for formation evaluation when the wireline is unavailable due to hole conditions or in highly deviated wells. This integration can update MW strategies, determine optimal casing/liner positions, modify well plans and early well TD identification to reduce drilling risks, while enhancing formation evaluation for completion.
Ajmi et al. (Sat,) studied this question.
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