| Title | Drill-Well-on-Paper (DWOP) Utilization in Indonesia Geothermal Drilling Projects: What are the Lessons Learned? |
|---|---|
| Authors | Dorman Purba, Daniel Adityatama, Vicky Rai Chandra |
| Year | 2023 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | drilling, cost, planning, risk, complexity, geothermal, workshop, communication, mitigation, efficiency, DWOP, optimization, Indonesia |
| Abstract | Drilling is one of the biggest cost contributors, both in oil and gas or geothermal projects. Therefore, geothermal developers should closely monitor the drilling cost to reduce the whole geothermal development cost. Regarding the drilling cost, many previous studies have argued that cost optimization can be achieved if the risk mitigation and optimization plan have been thoroughly formulated early in the planning phase, and then can be applied during the drilling operation. However, a drilling project is a very complex operation involving various services and activities. Those complexities make it impossible for the drilling engineers alone to address and devise risk mitigation plans for potential drilling problems. It requires good and intensive communication between personnel from various backgrounds and expertise to put together a proper drilling program. This communication and coordination process is typically known as Drill-Well-on-Paper (DWOP). DWOP is very common in oil and gas drilling projects to identify potential drilling problems that may result in Non-Productive Time (NPT) and increasing total drilling cost. But its application in geothermal drilling in Indonesia still leaves room for improvement, as some may treat DWOP as just another custom in the industry without fully realizing its importance. Another crucial aspect that tends to be forgotten is that DWOP also act as a communication medium that connects the engineers who are creating the drilling program with the drilling personnel who carries out the operation on the field. This paper summarizes the study of analyzing the DWOP practices conducted by geothermal developers and active geothermal drilling personnel in Indonesia. The research assesses the effectiveness of DWOP practices in geothermal drilling projects in Indonesia. Several aspects such as the participants’ awareness of the DWOP significance and objectives, the DWOP activity structure, the composition of the participants involved, facilitators’ competency, and the end-product of the DWOP were evaluated. The data gathering for the research was done through literature studies and distributing questionnaires / interviewing geothermal drilling personnel in Indonesia. Several best practices that are common in the oil and gas industry were also compiled for comparison. Finally, this study intends to obtain a preliminary mapping of DWOP effectiveness in the current geothermal industry in Indonesia and identify best practices in conducting DWOP. Those best practices then can be used as a guideline for conducting future DWOP, and in turn, will lead to cost-optimization in drilling as well as the whole geothermal project. |