EXERCISE: Drilling Cost & Drilling Rate (Dr.

DO QUANG KHANH)
It is essential, in any drilling operation, to minimize trip time and connection time
in order to achieve the minimum drilling cost possible. Connection time, varies
according to the drilling system deployed.
Estimating drilling trip and connection times are very important because they
directly affect the total cost of drilling a well. Trip time refers to time required to
removing the drillstring from the hole to change a portion of the downhole assembly
and then lowering the drillstring back to the hole bottom. Trip times are usually spent
on changing drill bits. While connection time refers to time required to adding and
connecting pipes to the drillstring in order to continue drilling and achive new
depths.The purpose of the work is to develop correlations to predict trip time and
connection time.
A direct relationship between connection time and depth was found and a
logarithmic relationship between trip time and depth was found. Correlations
that can be used to predict connection time, trip time Correlations can be used to
estimate the total time required for pipe handling (connection and trip times) which
is of great significance as it assists in estimating the total cost of drilling a well.

Figure 1. Connection time versus depth for the top drive system.

1|Page
1.5. A recommended bit program is being prepared for a new well using bit
performance records from nearby wells. Drilling performance records for three bits
are shown for a thick limestone formation at 9,000 ft. Determine which bit gives the
lowest drilling cost if the operating cost of the rig is $400/hr, the trip time is 7 hours,
and connection time is 1 minute per connection.

2|Page
Solutions
Using the following formular:

For Bit A, the cost per foot is

For Bit B, the cost per foot is

For Bit C, the cost per foot is

By all above calculations we should choose Bit B because it has the lowest drilling
cost.
 GROUP’S MEMBERS:
Nguyễn Hán Thịnh 1652575
Nguyễn Việt Ân 1652040
Huỳnh Thanh Toàn 1652610
Trương Vũ 1552441

3|Page
4|Page