SPE 117848

"SIMOPS, Intending to Break North Field Records in String Time per Well"
Anton Vos, Allan Cross, Bart Lismont, John van Venrooij, Roy Quaden, Sean Byrne / Qatar Shell GTL

Copyright 2008, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the 2008 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, 3–6 November 2008.

This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper have not been
reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material does not necessarily reflect any position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its
officers, or members. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper without the written consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers is prohibited. Permission to
reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words; illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous acknowledgment of SPE copyright.

Abstract

Historically, development wells in Qatar’s North Field have taken anywhere from 70 to 100 days to drill, complete, perforate,
stimulate and clean up in preparation for their long term production. To date, optimisations have predominantly focused on the
Drilling and Completion (installation) scope, as a mean’s of reducing the rig’s critical path. Although there have been
initiatives to minimize cost impacts by using cheaper alternatives to rigs for Perforation, Stimulation and Clean Up, these do
not address the total critical path impact that well delivery has on Project schedules. Pearl GTL’s Well Delivery initiative
“SIMOPS” could potentially address some of the imbalance.

What do we mean by SIMOPS?

“Undertaking drilling and completion operations with the rig, while simultaneously performing perforate, stimulation and
clean up operations on previously drilled and completed wells”

Pearl SIMOPS options included; being entirely rig based and running concurrent operations from the rig’s decks, upgrading
temporary wellhead decks such that the well service operations were ‘self sufficient’, and or use of a barge alongside rig /
temporary decks, and numerous variants/combinations of the afore mentioned.
Initially, SIMOPS value drivers focused on; HSE, innovation, and cost savings, which were used in part for justifying a high
specification jack up rig. Cost savings, based on rig days saved, were in the order of $60MM. Yet when the upfront well count
increased, during the planning phase prior to FID, schedule suddenly became a very significant value driver, Well Delivery
was now very much on the Project critical path.

Introduction

In October 2003 Shell signed a Heads Of Agreement with Qatar Petroleum for the development of a world scale gas to liquids
plant. This GTL plant consists of two separate trains which each produce 70,000 barrels of GTL products from 800 MMsCuft
gas feed. To establish the gas composition for the GTL plant design and to obtain early reservoir information to optimize the
area development plan one data and one appraisal well were drilled in 2004. The development drilling campaign called for two
platform locations with initially 8 wells each. Early 2005 the design and engineering for the development campaign was
started. In line with Shells well delivery process a “Value Challenge” was held in the Shell offices in Rijswijk, the
Netherlands. In such a value challenge the whole process to plan and design the project is studied and discussed with the
team, head office specialists and peers from other projects. Many ideas were generated to optimize the drilling and completion
of the wells, like driving the conductors instead of drilling a hole and cementing the conductor in place. Further time savings
were identified to reduce the drilling time by using high powered thin rubber mud motors, drilling the 16" hole section with
natural build assemblies and PDC bits etc. One part of the well construction process however looked more difficult to
optimize. The North field is by far the largest gas/condensate field in the world, and while structurally not complex it has some
features that make stimulating the reservoir section effectively a challenge. Firstly the Khuf reservoir in the North field is very
thick which leads to a very long effective reservoir along hole length for the around 55 to 60 degree inclined development
wells. Secondly the permeability's for the reservoir section ranges from sub milli-darcy's to several Darcy’s. To perforate,
stimulate and clean up effectively such a long reservoir section takes time, which with today's high rig rates is expensive.
2 SPE 117848

Since it looked unlikely that the perforation/stimulation and clean up time could be reduced significantly the idea was born to
perform these activities "off-line" i.e. concurrently with drilling later wells. This method of perforating/stimulating/cleaning up
concurrently while drilling subsequent wells is what we refer to as SIMOPS.

Conventional drilling campaign

Well 1 Drill, Log & Complete Perf/Stim/Clean

Well 2 Drill, Log & Complete Perf/Stim/Clean
Well 3 Drill, Log & Complete Perf/Stim/Clean

Time savings
15 to 20days
Per Well

SIMOPS drilling Campaign

Well 1 Drill, Log & Complete

Well 2 Drill, Log & Complete On-Line operations
Well 3 Drill, Log & Complete

Well 1 Perf/Stim/Clean
Well 2 Perf/Stim/Clean Off-line operations
Well 3 Perf/Stim/Clean

Figure 1 –SIMOPS Time savings

Concept selection for SIMOPS

Back in Qatar after the “Value Challenge” the team started to work out several different options to perform the
perforation/stimulation and well clean up offline. Several concepts were studied, for instance only drilling and completing the
wells with the expensive drilling rig and afterwards performing the perforation, stimulation and clean up scope with a cheaper
unit or even a well servicing barge. While these options will reduce the overall cost of the project, it does not shorten the total
well delivery time of the project. Since shortening the total amount of rig days per well was one of the drivers the concept of
performing the perforation, stimulation and clean up scope from the drilling unit concurrently with drilling of the wells was
selected. The first thing that was realized is that if more activities needed to be performed simultaneously more people,
equipment and materials would be required at the work place at the same time. If all these activities would be performed from
the drilling rig, a significantly larger drilling rig would be required then the commonly used drilling units for drilling
development wells in Qatar. Since such a unit was not readily available it was decided to tender for the drilling rig very early.
Since a larger drilling rig would undoubtedly more expensive then an conventional smaller unit the tender exercise consisted
of two options where by the development campaign would be drilled either with two standard jack up drilling rigs or with one
large high specification unit. The tender resulted to awarding the contract to Noble for a new build Friede and Goldman JU-
2000E design rig. Since the awarded rig still had to be built by the time the contract was awarded, the contract contained a
clause that if the new build rig would arrive after a certain cut of date, when drilling had to be started to meet project
milestones, a standard rig could be supplied to perform the initial drilling activities before the arrival of the high specification
rig. The addition of this clause to the contract has proven to be very valuable for two reasons. Firstly as with many new build
projects in today’s overheated market the new build high specification rig, the Noble Roger Lewis did not arrive as originally
planned in October 2007, but was delayed to February 2008. Secondly when finalizing the Area Development Plan during the
planning phase prior to FID, the total number of wells was increased to 22 wells, 11 from each platform location. These 11
wells would consist of converting the vertical data wells, which were drilled up front from with a mud line suspension system
to a vertical producer with 10 additional deviated wells, which roughly radiate out from the platform center in a circle with a
step out of around 3000 meters. This increase in well count meant that not all wells could be constructed from one rig
sequence. The contract for the standard rig, the Noble Gene house was therefore extended to additionally drill the top-hole
sections on the Pearl-2 location.

After the rig contract was awarded, Noble the drilling contractor joined the team to convert the SIMOPS plan to a conceptual
design. During this phase of the project it was concluded that it would be best to separate the online drilling and completion
activities as far as possible from the Offline stimulate, perforate and clean up activities. This meant that most if not all offline
activities would be performed from temporary drilling decks.
SPE 117848 3

Figure 2 – Conceptual rig and platform side view

A Quantative Risk Assessment (QRA) was performed on the concept of performing the SIMOPS in this set up. The QRA
confirmed that the risk with performing SIMOPS were in the acceptable range. The temporary platform decks were mainly
designed to perform work on the wellheads and x-mass tree's during the well construction. One additional deck was included
in the original temporary platform decks this part was intended to be used for testing activities for the main gas pipeline to Ras
Laffan. The decision to perform the perforating from the temporary platform deck under the rigs cantilever resulted in an
increase of the distance between the underside of the cantilever which in normal operations is just a couple of feet to a distance
of 90 feet. This increase together with the requirement for lifting and hoisting equipment led to most up grade requirements for
the drilling rig.

Platform temporary deck upgrades

The original temporary platform deck is a deck to perform well head and x-mass tree installation operations during the well
construction process. These decks are only temporary since they will be removed once the well construction is complete prior
to the installation of the permanent platform topsides. These decks normally are mainly for access only during the limited time
of the well construction activities, and are therefore light and simple. Performing SIMOPS operations placed however much
higher requirements on these decks. Firstly they had to be much larger to give enough space for a slick line wire line unit, a
braided line wire line unit to perform the perforating, and enough space for wire line workshops, lubricators etc. To clean up
the well the well is produced at rates of 100 MM Scft/day to remove the completion fluid, clean up the perforation tunnels and
remove the spent acid after the stimulation. For this a well clean up spread is required. To separate the clean up equipment and
the wire line equipment it was decided to include a separate deck for this clean up equipment.

Figure 3 – The simple original temporary decks. Figure 4 – The large final temporary decks for SIMOPS.
4 SPE 117848

Normally during well tests and well clean up activities the flare booms that are required to burn the produced gas and
condensate are mounted on the drilling rig. The decision to separate the offline and online activities as much as possible mean
that these flare booms now had to be mounted on the platform. Heat radiation studies showed that a high specification deluge
system would be required to keep the heat radiation within acceptable levels. Optima as specialist company was contracted to
provide nozzles that create a fine mist instead of the common systems used in this area that use a water spray to cool down
parts of the installation that are heated up by the flare. The rigs deep well pumps are normally supplying the water for this
system. The deep well pumps on the rig however did not have enough capacity and instead of up grading the rigs system and
having to pump the water from the sea level to the rig in its high elevation, it was decided to mount a separate the water supply
system on the platform deck. This deluge water supply system consists of two deep well pumps and two booster pumps
capable of supplying the deluge system with 2500 Gallons per minute at 250 psi.

Figure 5 – Simulating heat radiation due to flaring.

The cranes on the drilling rig can only reach the temporary decks when the derrick is skidded in and over to the port side. This
meant that equipment and supplies could only be transferred to the platform when drilling is shut down. Both for online and
offline activities point of view this was unacceptable. A 12 metric ton crane was therefore installed on the temporary decks.
Since this crane was not available in time to be installed during the installation of the temporary decks, it was installed by the
Noble Roger Lewis drilling rig in between well operations early on in the project.

Figure 6 – Installation of the platform crane on the temporary decks

SPE 117848 5

Normal temporary platform decks do not have the following equipment:

 Fire and Gas system

 Platform ESD system
 Permanent platform Lighting
 Utility supply lines such as water, air, and diesel.
 H2S breathing cascade system.
 Life rafts

Normally it would have been best to install all these systems in the yard during the construction of the temporary decks. Time
pressures to install the decks when the crane barge was available however meant that all these systems could not be included in
the temporary decks before they were installed offshore and had to be added during the drilling of the first wells before the real
SIMOPS could start. While these construction activities took a couple of months and probably could have done much more
efficient in the yard, it gave the crews offshore a chance to practice, albeit a different type, SIMOPS with its inherent
communication requirements before the real activities started.

Figure 7 – The temporary decks left just after installation and right just before the start of SIMOPS

Drilling rig modifications

The contract for the Pearl Project was awarded to a newly built high performance Jack Up drilling rig in November 2005.
Planning for SIMOPS started in February 2006 and from the onset it became clear that performing SIMOPS from the Jack-up
drilling rig would not be feasible, and off-line operations would have to be conducted from the platform. To support SIMOPS
however several rig upgrades were required, these upgrades were completed in shipyard in Sharjah, between October 2007 and
January 2008, prior to arrival of the drilling rig in Qatar waters.

General upgrades required to operate at a 120 ft air gap

In order to facilitate a perforation gun length that would minimize the amount of gun runs required it was decided to operate
the drilling rig at a 120 ft air gap to create a workable space of 90 foot between the top of the temporary decks and the bottom
of the rigs cantilever. The "air gap" is the distance between the bottom of the hull and the water level. Since jack up rigs are
normally operating with an air gap between 40 and 60 ft all systems on the rig are designed for that. In order to be able to
operate at a 120 ft air gap, all crane wires had to be renewed with extended lengths, the loading hoses had to be extended, all
wire ropes for lifeboats and life rafts had to be extended.
In addition camera systems were installed on the port and starboard forward cranes to be able to assist the crane operators in
the safe offloading of supply boats and taking on of bulk.

Upgrade to facilitate access and egress from the temporary decks of the production platform

Normally the distance from the top of the hull to the top of the platform decks is around 10 foot and a simple set of stairs is
normally used for access from the rig to the platform. With a 90-foot distance between the top of the hull and the top of the
platform deck traditional stairs were not feasible any more. People working on the platform would need to walk 90 foot of
6 SPE 117848

stairs, comparable to 8 to 9 floors in a normal building every time they would need to go from the platform to the rig and vice
versa. An exercise that even for the very fit is not easy under the high temperatures encountered in this region during a large
part of the year. Therefore a stair tower was designed that consists of a frame with both stairs for emergency access and a
elevator like commonly seen on building sites for access during normal operations. With the rig to be positioned 40 ft away
from the platform, a bridge would give access from the stair tower to the platform. The staircase was designed by Slaton
engineering and build by the Lamprell shipyard prior to the arrival of the rig in Sharjah from China. The design allowed the rig
to work at high and low air gaps. The stair tower was split in 2 sections; the upper section is 40 ft long and covers the complete
length of the hull. The upper stair tower section by itself allows the rig to work at low air gaps and by adding the lower 60ft
section the total length of the stair tower is increased to 100 ft allowing the rig to work at the required 120 ft air gap. The
bridge can be attached to either the upper or lower sections.
All electrical cables and utility lines have been routed to the platform from the drilling rig via the stair tower and the bridge.

Accommodation Upgrade

While the original standard design for the rig included accommodation for 160 people, the rig was ordered as a copycat from a
rig build for a Chinese drilling contractor. This design did not include the intended 160 POB specification but only allowed
120 persons on the drilling rig. While planning SIMOPS activities, it became clear that a POB of 120 would not suffice. With
both drilling, and perforating/stimulation/clean-up operations ongoing more space would be required in the accommodation.
The most cost effective way was found to be to upgrade the accommodation to a POB of 130. This was mainly driven by the
required change out of the lifeboats. The existing 60 people lifeboats could be changed to 65 people lifeboats with a minimum
cost impact as these were available from the drilling contractor. Additional life rafts were purchased and placed around the rig
as required. Operations up to now have proven that this upgrade to 130 people is the bare minimum, and still requires shuttling
a lot of people on and off the rig. The original design with 160 POB would have made this operation a lot simpler.

Figure 8 – The stair tower design and in reality

SPE 117848 7

Addition of hoisting equipment underneath the cantilever deck

To be able to handle all the equipment on the platform a 12-ton crane has been installed which is used to move equipment
around in the main deck and to offload supply boats. For handling the perforation and slick line lubricator, gantry cranes
running over trolley beams have been installed. Four gantry cranes have been installed underneath the cantilever deck, each
capable of 6-ton lift. Two gantry cranes are mounted on each side of the high pressure drilling riser to enable offline operations
on any well on the platform except on the same row as where drilling operations take place.

Figure 9 – The conceptual design of the gantry cranes

The cranes can be moved forward / backward and lateral via a trolley beam system that was installed under the cantilever
deck. To be able to reach even the last row of wells when drilling activities take place on the front most row of wells the
beams stick out approx 20 ft past the end of the cantilever. This design also allowed for a parking space for the gantry cranes
during rig moves when the cantilever is skidded all the way back over the rigs hull.

Long High Pressure Risers

During the planning phase of SIMOPS, it was decided that with the 120 ft air gap, the BOP’s would be left at the rig level.
This meant that the BOP would be located inside the rigs cantilever. Together with the special "spider deck" means that the
total cantilever is enclosed minimizing the risk of dropped object from this area to the top of the platform deck. As with all
choices there are normally up and down sides. The down side of this decision was that 2 high-pressure risers had to be
manufactured, one 20 ¾” riser and one 13 5/8” riser.

Figure 10 –The gantry cranes mounted below the cantilever

The total length of these risers is 115 ft. Since this length is around 100 foot more than for a normal rig up a structural analysis
was performed on this riser by UWG. The analysis concluded that a normal riser was strong enough to carry the complete
weight of the BOP and that the only lateral support required was right at the top of the BOP where it is connected to the
diverter housing mounted below the rig floor.

Changing the Conductor Tensioning Platform (‘The Box’) to a more standard BOP platform.
The original design of the rig had a conductor tensioning platform (CTP) at the back end and inside of the cantilever, this so
called box could move up and down into this moon pool area, which in addition to the conductor tensioning provided some
protection while working in this area when the rig would be operating in free standing mode.
With the gantry cranes installed underneath the cantilever deck, it would be impossible to operate this CTP.
8 SPE 117848

Freede Goldman the designers of the rig were asked to design a more traditional BOP deck that would allow easy access to the
BOP’s and would provide a safe area to work. A 15” gap runs over the length of the BOP deck to allow access for the drilling
risers to pass through. The holes would be covered with deck hatches if not used.
This BOP platform was manufactured and installed in the Sharjah shipyard.

Additional services required for the platform

To provide a high volume pressure test and well kill line to the platform a 2” high pressure line was installed to service the
operations on the platform. The line consists of 2” hard piping from the cement unit inside the cantilever deck to the moon
pool where a where is changes into a coflexip hose on a special designed hang off point and going down to the platform.
All services on the platform are provided from the rig. All power for lighting, the platform crane, and the deluge water pumps
etc are provided from the rig. Rig air, Breathing cascade system air, diesel etc are provided from the rig via utility lines routed
via the stair tower and the platform access bridge. The same route is used for the signals of the fire and gas system, the rigs
communication system and the rig-mounted platform ESD system.

Systems and Organisation

SIMOPS and HSE

Given the complexities of the HSE and operational interfaces between the simultaneous rig and platform activities it was
decided at concept design stage to perform a Quantative Risk Assessment and develop a dedicated SIMOPS HSE Case. The
tools were deemed necessary to adequately assess the associated risks.

SIMOPS Quantative Risk Assessment (QRA)

Before the decision was made to continue with the SIMOPS concept for the Pearl GTL drilling campaign a QRA was
performed to determine if the absolute risk of performing these activities were in line with Shell and project specific risk
levels. To define the operations and identify the hazards the generation of the QRA was kicked of by performing a HAZID.
The QRA study had the following objectives:
• Carry out hazard analysis work related to dispersion of toxins and heat from flaring, using latest Shell software, and
thereby determine the need for protection and any constraints on flare boom and/or rig positions.
• Determine if absolute risk levels for SIMOPS are tolerable. The measure of absolute risk that is specifically limited by
Shell is Individual Risk Per Annum (IRPA) due to work place hazards
• Identify the incremental risk for SIMOPS versus non-concurrent working. This is best expressed in terms of overall
Potential Loss of Life (PLL) for the job.
• Identify major risk contributors and thereby assist with identification of practicable risk reduction measures to help reduce
risks to ALARP.

The project specific hazard analysis work and the QRA has concluded that:
• Thermal radiation and products of combustion from flaring well fluids up to 150MMSCF/D at the tips of the 85 foot long
burner booms, will not generate intolerable hazard levels at the well jacket or drilling rig.
• Unignited gas releases from the wire line head will disperse over a few meters to concentrations that are below lethal
considering the H2S concentrations.
• Quantified safety risks for SIMOPS at Pearl 1, with the rig positioned on the South side of the jacket, are tolerable by
Shell and project criteria
• The maximum calculated Individual Risk Per Annum (IRPA) for the base case SIMOPS job, is tolerable by Shell risk
acceptance criteria
• Total calculated Potential Loss of Life (PLL) for the SIMOPS operations are within the acceptable range.

SIMOPS HSE Case Objectives

The objective of the SIMOPS HSE Case was primarily to reduce the risks associated with the operations to ALARP but in
more detail the requirements were to:
SPE 117848 9

• Describe the intended SIMOPS operations in detail

• Ensure that all risks were assessed to ALARP and that appropriate controls were identified
• Recognise HSE critical systems (equipment and processes) necessary for the safe execution of SIMOPS
• Identify HSE Critical personnel and the tasks they must perform for the safe execution of SIMOPS
• Identify HSE related planning, preparation and implementation activities for the SIMOPS operations

• Document the research and decision making that has resulted in the HSE Case as demonstration that due diligence has
taken place
• Show that Senior Management have endorsed the SIMOPS HSE Case and agree that the SIMOPS as planned were safe to
proceed
Through the process of development of the SIMOPS HSE Case a number of deficiencies were identified resulting in remedial
actions. They form the basis for plans and implementation activities and contribute to the SIMOPS HSE Case being a ‘living
document’.

Process of HSE Case Development

The SIMOPS HSE Case process began with the creation of a study team that included QSGTL Well Engineering, Logistics
and HSE personnel plus representatives from the Contracting Companies who would be executing the work.
The objectives of the team were to:
• Develop a Matrix of Permissible Operations (MOPO) i.e. identify the impact of rig operations on the platform and vice
versa and identify the controls to permit simultaneous rig and platform operations to continue
• Develop a Hazard Register
Development of the HSE Case documentation was carried out by QSGTL HSE advisors with continued input from the
contracting companies involved. The HSE case was rolled out as a ‘live document’ as it was expected that given the
uniqueness of the operation further revisions of the SIMOPS HSE Case would be required as plans further matured and rolled
into the operating phase.

HSE Case Contents

The Contents of the HSE Case follow the structure given below.

Figure 11 Hazard Assessment is central to the HSE case.

10 SPE 117848

Detailed HAZOP study

Fine-tuning of the detailed design was done in parallel with the SIMOPS HSE case development and roll out. After freezing
the design it was felt that the HAZOP carried out as part of the HSE case development was in some areas lacking the required
detail to ALARP. Hence a second detailed HAZOP was done on the final well clean up, slick line, wire line and stimulation
systems design. The outcome of this HAZOP was subsequently merged into the SIMOPS HSE case during a subsequent
review.

Technical Assurance
An independent technical team consisting of Shell Group Completions and Well Intervention senior personnel, Pearl GTL
project HSE personnel plus a senior representative from a Contracting Company carried out a 5-day technical assurance
review during the preparation phase. This to verify that operations where planned and executed against Group and industry
HSE and Technical standards. Recommendations were carried forward during final preparation. It was this review team, with
intimate knowledge of the planned operations and environment, who finally sanctioned the start of SIMOPS, after satisfying
themselves that all risks were appropriately addressed with all controls in place.

Action Register
To ease implementation of the SIMOPS HSE case, HAZOP and recommendations from the Technical Assurance review a
detailed action register was developed, whereby individual actions/control measures were ranked on priority and risk. This
‘live’ register formed the basis of internal and external meetings with the Contracting Companies. The action register was also
key in tracking progress versus schedule.
The action register was also the basis for the final review with the Technical Assurance team to start take SIMOPS from the
Define into the Execute phase (as per the Shell Well Delivery Process).
It was also this action register that was carried forward into the execution phase to capture learning’s and actions of After
Action Reviews (AAR), Shell’s operational evaluation tool.

Key Interfaces with the Rig

Integrating HSE critical systems with the rig was of prime importance. Two key examples are the seamless integration of the
Emergency Response and the Permit to Work. It was very clear that the rig and platform should be seen as one entity and that
emergency response should be controlled via standard chain of command through the rig. Hence the main objective in case of
any emergency is to return platform personnel back to the rig, thereby gathering all personnel at one central muster point.
Detailed emergency response procedures were developed around this principle and integrated into the existing rig emergency
response plan. So after ‘making the well safe’, an initial muster on the platform and confirming escape back to the rig was
unobstructed, platform personnel will make its way back to their dedicated muster point on the rig. In case return to the rig
was obstructed a secondary alternative escape route to sea and a full suite of lifesaving equipment was catered for on the
platform.
The permit to work (PTW) system is a proven way of controlling hazards and is especially useful to assess impact of one
operation onto the next (SIMOPS). It was agreed that the existing PTW system in use on the rig was suitable for individual
platform activities. Main adjustment to the PTW system was that the MOPO (Matrix of Permissible Operations) required to
be referenced during the permit authorisation process. In addition it was agreed that all rig and platform permits were to be
authorised by both the rig and platform supervisory personnel and this is only practical with adequate upfront planning to
avoid delays around permit sign off.

Programme and Work Instructions

The operational activities were captured in a detailed programme and associated work instructions. Given the unique
interfaces with the rig it was decided to review the contracting companies standard operating procedures for compatibility with
the platform specific set up. A specific area of concern was the suspension of pressure control equipment from gantry cranes
underneath the cantilever. Draft procedures were compiled in close liaison with the contracting companies and checked
multiple times on the platform itself against feasibility and adjusted accordingly. This resulted in detailed specific ‘drillers
instructions’ being available prior to commencement of the operations. Going to this level of detail at the preparation stage
enabled us to achieve a flawless start up with all equipment available onsite.
 SPE 117848 11

Inductions and SIMWOP

To familiarize offshore platform crew and other stakeholders with the programme, work instructions and emergency response
plans a 2-day induction and SIMWOP (SIMOPS the Well On Paper) was organized just prior to start up. A high level of
attendance of core platform personnel was a prerequisite and achieving this was no doubt a key success factor in achieving the
successful start up of the SIMOPS operations.

SIMOPS audit
Operations to date have proven that the systems and equipment perform well. To further verify the effectiveness of the
implementation plans and procedures a SIMOPS audit will be carried out by Shell Group about 2 months after start up.

Conclusions

Drilling optimizations identified in the value challenge have reduced the drilling time from an average of 61 days at the
concept selection time to 45 days that are being used for the AFE for Pearl GTL. While the drilling campaign is still ongoing
results up to now indicate that this AFE time is realistic and can be met. Historically 12 to 45 days were required for the
stimulation, perforation and well clean up work scope, which lead to a total well duration of 70 to 100 days
The stimulation technique selected for the Pearl GTL projects utilises Visco-elastic Diverting acid combined with hydrolysable
fibers. This has reduced the over all time for the perforation stimulation clean-up work scope to 15 days.
Since Pearl GTL performs the perforating, stimulating and clean-up activities off line concurrently while drilling and
completing subsequent wells this results in using only 45 string days per well compared to 70 to 100 days historically.
SIMOPS has enabled the Pearl GTL Well delivery team to deliver Top Quartile performance on a for Shell must win project.

During the development of the SIMOPS concept some additional advantages became apparent. Since the off-line activities are
not on the critical path and the fact that the wells do not need to be stimulated straight away after the perforation operations are
completed the timing when the stimulation vessel would be required became more flexible.
Clean-Up duration
Stimulation /
Perforation /

16 days Time Savings

due to drilling optimisations
31 days Total Rig Day
Time savings
Cleanup duration
Stimulation /
Perforation /

15 days Time savings

due to SIMOPS
Historical Drill, Log & Complete Duration

Historical 76 Rig Days

per Well
Optimised Drill, Log & Complete Duration

Optimised Drill, Log & Complete Duration

Drilling Rig Days

45 Rig Days per well

With SIMOPS
Cleanup duration
Stimulation /
Perforation /

Figure 12. Total timesavings due to drilling optimisations and SIMOPS

12 SPE 117848

As a result of this the project contracted a stimulation vessel on a call off contract basis rather than a commonly used dedicated
contract. Operating rates for a call off contract are lower than a dedicated contract since it enables the stimulation contractor to
increase the utilization of his vessel by using it on call of jobs during the unused time on a dedicated contract.
Installing and testing the x-mass tree is normally done with the rig and takes around half a day. This activity can now be done
offline utilizing the gantry cranes and the platform crews. Over all the SIMOPS project has been very successful, projected to
save around 300 rig days for the Pearl project.

Figure 13. Flaring during well clean-up from the platform while drilling continues from the rig.

Acknowledgements:
Qatar Petroleum (QP), Shell International Exploration and Production (SIEP), Qatar Shell Gas To Liquids (QSGTL - a Shell Gas and Power
entity) Leadership Team, QSGTL Well Engineering / Subsurface / and Platforms Teams
QSGTL Contractors - CW International HSE, Halliburton, JRM McDermott, Noble Drilling (and their Third Party Contractors; Slaton
Engineering, Seacor Industries, Kone Cranes, Dalian and Lamprell shipyards), Optima, P-EWI, Schlumberger, UWG, Weatherford

References:
Hazard analysis & QRA for SIMOPS at Pearl 1 by the Roger Lewis Jack-Up Drilling Rig / PEWI-QS-P1,2-SIMOPS-QRA-01 / Petrokon-
EWI Sdn Bhd (P-EWI)
Heat radiation study Flaresim modelling Optima Solutions UK Ltd.
Structural Analysis of High Pressure Drilling Risers on Pearl Platform Wells - UWG UK Ltd
SIMOPS HSE case QATAR-WE HSE-SP-0055
QSGTL SIMOPS Operations Programme Rev 01