Applied Drilling Engineering Bourgoyne Solution Manual
Avery Blaschko
The Amoco Matagorda Island 636 No. 1 exploratory well was successfully drilled to 18,834 ft in 85 days. Both the depth and the drilling time were industry records for the 50-block area on trend with the well. The 357F bottomhole temperature, required mud weights of up to 18.5 lbm/gal, more than 8,000 ft of overpressured section, more than 2,000 ft of previously unexplored section, and the historical drilling problems in the area combined to make this well a special challenge. The results validate the strategy that was developed to integrate engineering and operations as an example of how to meet such challenges successfully.
This paper focuses on describing this strategy, how it was developed and applied, and the results achieved relative to previous industry performance in the area. Planning, innovation, and teamwork were the crucial components of the strategy and are discussed in detail. Specific examples of techniques, technology, tools, and our tactics for applying them are provided. These ranged from rigorous application of important industry standard practices to pure experimentation (with previously untried bit designs) and included a comprehensive effort to achieve a positive synergy within both the drilling system we assembled and our organization for its operation.