Overcoming Realtime LWD Limitations of Longest Horizontal Drilling: A Unique Experience from Abu Dhabi

Abstract Drilling long horizontal sections has been modus operation for some offshore operations by ADNOC for efficient exploitation through extended reach wells. Getting Realtime data for operational decisions becomes hugely challenging as the footage drilled goes higher, due to limitations posed by mud pulse telemetry and associated noise. This study presents a unique experience where logging-while-drilling (LWD) data could be streamed with high quality in Realtime in a record length extended-reach drilling (ERD) well through complex carbonate reservoirs with deployment of an advanced new solution. Record drilling footage of more than fifty-two thousand feet was achieved in a long horizontal well drilled through a complex carbonate formation offshore Abu Dhabi. Operations suffered with the loss in real-time communication and degradation of real-time data quality after forty-one thousand feet of drilling. A novel technology of advanced telemetry was deployed to drill next section of planned additional eleven thousand feet that provides increased bandwidth for high fidelity Realtime data transmission with better data quality even at higher rates of drilling (ROP) in extreme conditions for measurements while drilling (MWD) and logging while drilling (LWD) in record measured total depth. This new mud pulse telemetry platform enabled transmission of high quality Realtime MWD and LWD data to surface while drilling the deepest and longest section of the well towards the total depth at fast penetration rates. Good quality density images could be sent up hole with more than 100-ft/ hr. drilling rates in addition to the petrophysical triple combo data from the depths of >52,000 ft (about 15.85 km). Advanced data algorithms and embedded intelligent modulation methods pushed the boundaries towards achieving this unique experience. This paper illustrates good geosteering practices in a challenging long horizontal well with carefully selected LWD program to achieve the target and reduce risks. The success of high quality Realtime data from such ERD wells opens new opportunities for drilling such wells through complex settings while still being able to acquire high-quality data without worrying about legacy limitations of mud pulse telemetry.