Driving Innovation to Improve Well Surveillance Tools in HPHT Wells, an Example from a Data Engineer

Summary The evolution of mudlogging services has transitioned towards a more integrated approach, emphasizing well surveillance as a critical component of Surface Logging, particularly in high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) wells. This abstract highlights challenges faced by data engineers, who are pivotal in well control teams, when managing complex data sets for optimal decision-making. The example in this case study enhanced well control decision-making and mitigated cognitive bias by developing a streamlined data organization process, improving the efficiency of surface logging operations overall. A macro-based, database-linked spreadsheet was developed to facilitate event-based comparisons of trip tank volumes against established reference profiles, enhancing anomaly detection capabilities. This innovative tool allowed for more comprehensive data representation beyond traditional methods, enabling rapid assessments of well behavior during flow checks. Effective flowback profiling is essential for distinguishing between influxes and normal well behavior in HPHT projects reducing the risk of mismanagement and associated costs. This abstract underscores the importance of clear and consistent data presentation, as well as the necessity for an accessible database for data engineers. Future research may focus on automating fingerprint comparisons and more data inputs, further optimizing data retrieval, display and interpretation.