A Semiempirical Model for Rate of Penetration with Application to an Offshore Gas Field

Summary In this paper, we present an accurate semiempirical rate of penetration (ROP) predictive model for polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bits. Our model is inspired by the model of Bourgoyne and Young (B&Y) and follows an exponential form with 10 different drilling functions to account for various factors affecting ROP in drilling operations. We extend the B&Y model to the PDC bits and discuss that a different predictive model should be obtained for each formation. On top of the factors included in the original B&Y model, our model accounts for parameters such as downhole motor, equivalent circulating density, mechanical weight on bit (WOB), and wellbore inclination. In particular, we incorporate the effect of equilibrium cuttings bed thickness and downhole cuttings concentration in the ROP model. The parameters of the model are obtained using multiple regression analysis with the field data. The importance of obtaining a formation-based ROP model is tested and verified with field data, and an algorithm to determine the parameters for new data is provided. The model can be incorporated in a framework to obtain an optimal well plan for a new well or for prescribing optimal operational parameters for well planning and real-time drilling operations. The prediction performance of the proposed model is also evaluated in various formations for several test wells across an offshore gas field. Our results indicate that the proposed model is able to predict the drilling ROP with an accuracy of more than 90%.