Automation Provides Unique Insights of The Rock Record and Subsurface Through the Delivery of a Robotic Sample Collection and Analysis Device

Abstract

Abstract Objectives/Scope From the very early days of oil and gas exploration, appraisal and development drilling, samples have been collected at the rig by mud logging personnel to conduct a preliminary geological analysis of the rock being drilled. This collection typically involves a sample collection recipient, board or bucket to collect a sample of rock over the desired interval. The sample is then sieved and cleaned in the appropriate way depending on the type of drilling fluid being used. As penetration rates have increased in some instances to more than 400 ft. / hr. the sample resolution has deteriorated exponentially. From an ergonomics perspective, the highest frequency to which a person onsite can collect a sample is once every 20 minutes. At 300 ft. / hr. this translates to 100 ft. of drilled rock. A new device has been developed and deployed which automates this manual process and thus ensures faster and more accurate collection of geological samples of the drilled rock interval. Sample resolutions of 5ft rock intervals have been attained at 400 ft./ hr. This technology has provided an important technological breakthrough and enables reduction of personnel at the rig site with a subsequent reduction in cost and HSE risk, particularly in areas of H2S. It further has provided for the potential integration with Measurement while drilling personnel. For both conventional and unconventional play development, this has provided oil and gas operators with an important and cost and risk reducing modus operandi compared to conventional drilling and evaluation techniques. The tool was deployed for an operator in West Texas where both manually collected traditional mudlog samples and automatically collected samples were taken. The samples were analyzed and compared for rock content. In addition, comparisons were made between point sampling with the automated system versus samples collected over a defined interval manually. Results of these comparisons will be presented. Results, Observations, Conclusions A new method of automated drill cuttings sample collection has been successfully deployed. The new method provides a step change improvement in accuracy and resolution for sampling the rock record during drilling. Novel/Additive Information Additional data of the rock record provides potential insights to optimize wellbore placement and provide increased geo-mechanical data to optimize completions.