PLANNING THE EXPLORATORY WELL DRILLING PROJECT
Management System is a methodology that can be applied in projects to deploy of offshore exploratory well operations in order to develop the Logistics Plan.
After approval of the exploratory drilling project proposal, project coordination should define the breakdown structure and processes for project management in order to optimize operation planning and minimizing changes throughout execution and project deployment phases, guiding actions so that the objectives defined in the scope are accomplished.
The suggested process intended to achieve the above strategy is the Well Delivery Process. This tool is defined as the project execution planning map which accounts for Front End Loading (FEL) methodology, and it subdivides the project into sequential phases, where each phase is assessed before commencing the next one, prioritizing the execution of the project’s most critical items. The exploratory well drilling project Coordinator is responsible for developing a specific Well Delivery Process for the project.
Figure 1 shows the project phases and the list of required macro products.
It is important to emphasize that the Project Coordinator should comprehensively elaborate the Well Delivery Process model, including or gathering activities and information, according to the specificity of the project.
Validation of each stage in the context of the company's management portfolio is of particular importance. To accomplish this, between stages, gates are set to define whether the business studies of the enterprise will advance or not to the following stages. After each stage, a performance analysis is carried out on these studies, often relying on independent audits, comparisons with similar projects, and using benchmarking as conceptual framework.
A schematic representation of the gates’ logics is illustrated in Figure 2 below.
Figure 2 - Validation of FEL stages (stage gates)
(Source: VALE/DIEP, 2007 – apud ROMERO; p.5)
SCOUTING PROCESS
To ensure success in defining the logistics plan of exploratory well drilling projects, carrying out one or more scouting missions in advance is essential and indispensable. The process aims at obtaining technical, logistical, legal and additional information on the status of the upstream oil industry in the place or country hosting the exploratory offshore operation, as well as the participation of reputable international service companies in this market, for planning, programming and obtaining information, with focus on:
- Local conditions of sale and incurred costs;
- Equipment and materials lead times;
- Local structure of suppliers of goods and services;
- The availability of special services, equipment and trained personnel;
- Data on correlation wells, well programs, including operational problems and related solutions;
- Applicable local legislation and logistical aspects.
(This information will continue to be developed in future publications as part of a series of articles related to MANAGEMENT SYSTEM METHODOLOGY - LOGISTICS PLAN)
