Addressing Unconventional Well's New Operational Challenges: Drilling of the Production Section in a Single Run. Case of Study: Aguada Pichana

Abstract Aguada Pichana field is in Neuquen Basin, northwest of Patagonia Argentina. The basin is characterized by stratigraphic successions determined by marine transgressions and regressions which, together with the tectonic evolution of the region, shaped the setting for one of the most productive basins in the country (Howell et al., 2005). The presence of shale-type reservoirs, specifically Vaca Muerta Formation, gave rise to the production of unconventional hydrocarbons. The technological maturity achieved by the industry has opened space for new opportunities for improvement, driving the adoption of innovative approaches and emerging solutions. One of the most immediate challenges is to establish as standard the drilling of the production section in a single run. To achieve this objective, we present two operations carried out in Field Aguada Pichana, where a set of new technologies, combined with proper planning, enabled the fastest operations in the field to date. The primary goal of drilling the final well section in a single run was successfully accomplished, and, in addition, total times in the vertical and curve sections were significantly reduced. To reach this primary objective, further operational advantages were obtained, such as the reduction of high-frequency torsional oscillation (HFTO) (predominant in Quintuco Formation), deployment of Rotary Continuous Surveys throughout the entire lateral section, real-time monitoring of stationary cuttings and very low well tortuosity. The new downhole technologies were combined with a set of digital tools that enables hole cleaning real time (RT) monitoring, based on a full transient hydraulics model. Another feature successfully deployed was the RT monitoring of broomstick, connecting the digital twin to the actual data. To complement the drilling automation system, another digital tool was deployed to monitor the well construction Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and provide insights to reduce invisible lost time (ILT).