Practices & Procedures
On location, Merlin’s advisors make sure that the practices and procedures being used on your complex well account for known subsurface and equipment risk factors, and are objective, avoiding the opportunity for misinterpretation. Merlin’s international experience shows that objective instructions are the best way to guarantee a consistent output on activities which are taking the team out of their comfort zone.
Hole Condition Monitoring
At the rigsite, Merlin’s independent specialists develop and interpret torque, drag, ECD, swab and surge models with the aim to reduce drilling risk and improve reliability of execution across drilling, tripping, and pipe running on your complex wells.
Crew Coaching
Stacked rigs and green crews add risk to complex well projects. Merlin’s independent specialists are highly experienced, often with time spent as a Drilling Engineer, Drilling Supervisor, or other skillset such as a Directional Driller on their resume. They understand the fundamental aspects of complex wells and possess the communication skills necessary to explain why we are recommending things be done in a specific way. These skills are used to coach and mentor rig teams who are beginning their journey, to ensure that the right decisions are made at the right time.
Drilling Optimisation
Many operators have proceduralized performance management systems which are used to great effect to identify and design out whatever is limiting them from drilling faster, cleaning up more efficiently or running and cementing pipe more effectively. Merlin has developed its own drilling optimization methodology which is now being deployed successfully on locations world-wide, allowing clients to drill their complex wells further, faster, more efficiently.
Related Case Studies
Consecutive BHA failures caused by bit and underreamer interaction
Merlin performed an independent review of two incidents that occurred while drilling a recent ERD well. The objective of the investigation was to identify the root cause of the failures and to propose engineered solutions to prevent similar failures occurring in future runs.
9-5/8″ Floated Casing Installation
This case study explains how we helped a client address a casing installation challenge by combining engineering and operations support with our TDH software.
Problem Formation Overcome With ERD Operational Practices
This case study looks at a multi-well development project from six fixed offshore installations with sub-sea satellite tie-back wells. Challenging high angle hole sections in large hole sizes through unstable shales and depleted zones prone to losses. Drilling performance suffering from multiple lost Bottom Hole Assemblies (BHAs) and significant Non-Productive Time (NPT).
More ERD Drilling Services
Training
Better trained people make better decisions. It is really that simple. If the plan is pushing the team out of their comfort zone, time in the classroom learning about the fundamentals and talking through critical success factors will improve reliability of well delivery.
Engineering
Challenging projects need rock-solid definition and a deep understanding of risk to ensure that engineers create solutions which preserve or enhance value. Merlin’s team of creative problem-solvers are on-hand to support your requirements in each of our core service areas.
Software
We developed TDH to leverage our industry-leading process knowledge honed on the worlds most complex wells. What was available commercially didn’t cut it for us, in the way we need to use data when on location or in the office.
 
