| Title | Comprehensive Assessment of the DEL-GT-02 Drilling Operations at TU Delft Campus |
|---|---|
| Authors | Alexis Koulidis, Susanne Laumann, Philip J. Vardon |
| Year | 2026 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | |
| Abstract | The geothermal energy sector has been a reliable and technically feasible energy source, with TU Delft conducting leading-edge research. This study focuses on a particularly challenging section encountered during the drilling of the DEL-GT-02 on the TU Delft campus, specifically addressing challenges related to wellbore instability and collapse. The paper presents a framework to automate the analysis of the actual drilling operations and provide an assessment of the wellbore quality. Essential drilling data (10-Hz) required to perform the analysis are well trajectory, drilling fluid properties, drilling parameters (WOB, RPM, etc.), and bottomhole assembly (BHA) design. A data quality framework is utilized to automate the recognition of the operation and separate the data into time and depth domains. This allows to estimate the number of overpulls and the exposure time of the formation. Appropriate physics-based modelling including wellbore reconstruction, drilling hydraulics and torque and drag, allows comparison with the measured variables. Recorded overpulls, cuttings description, and losses are utilized to evaluate the performance of the algorithm. Intervals of potential tight spots are then identified and implemented in the model to determine the wellbore quality and assess the feasibility of casing run. This study demonstrates an automated framework for analysing drilling data, integrated with physics-based modelling to assess wellbore quality. The approach enables the detection of tight spots and assesses casing run feasibility for geothermal drilling operations. |