Generation and Application of Drilling Dysfunction Analysis Tool for Instantaneous Comparing of Thousands of Drilling Runs
Authors: Simon Aaron , Swanson Nicholas , Gomez Maria Cazares , Alasow Abdiwahid , Love Michael 
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a novel collection of visualizations into a drilling dysfunction analysis tool. The analysis tool enables simple, quantifiable, accelerated comparison of the dysfunction profile of various bits, vibration dampeners, bottomhole assembly (BHA) components, formations and more. Visualizations are populated by downhole tool memory data and/or surface drilling parameter data to provide actionable comparisons.

The analysis tool enables users to quickly characterize drilling dysfunction exposure for a given bit, BHA configuration, formation, basin or any other identifiable parameter across up to 50,000 BHA runs. Both technical and non-technical users can quickly filter down to the application of interest and gain meaningful, actionable insights into correlations between various run parameters and different drilling dysfunctions. This can ultimately drive decisions on bit selection, BHA design, etc.

The analysis tool was created through use of a data science platform to connect run contextual data (bit, BHA, location, date, mud, drilling parameters, etc.) to high resolution downhole tool memory data. Curated data is linked to a versatile visualization tool where standard visualizations are available for the user to quickly correlate contextual data to the downhole drilling dysfunction channels. Meaningful visualizations generated by subject matter experts are implemented as part of the analysis tool to scale their local observations for broad field revelations.

Specific visualizations implemented in the analysis tool can be categorized into two sets: context/downhole and context/surface/downhole. Context refers to the well-specific or run-specific details, including bit or motor selection, BHA configuration, mud type, target formation, well location, run dates and depths, etc. Surface refers to relevant within-run surface drilling parameters, like weight on bit (WOB), rotational speed (RPM), rate of penetration (ROP), torque, differential pressure, etc. Downhole refers to the high-resolution drilling dysfunction channels recorded in the BHA tools, such as axial/lateral shocks and vibrations, torsional acceleration events and high frequency torsional oscillations (HFTO).

Context/downhole set of visualizations includes more generalized comparisons based on percent of time spent beyond various thresholds of each dysfunction. For example, this can enable a quick bit comparison by comparing different bit models to the percent of time spent above the very high vibration level threshold. Bits which spend more time above that threshold are concluded to be more susceptible to inducing BHA vibrations than the better-performing alternatives.

Context/surface/downhole enables more detailed analyses by incorporating surface drilling parameters for advanced filtering and normalization. For example, a scatter plot of WOB versus vibration has successfully characterized the difference between various vibration mitigation tools in the BHA

This analysis tool discussed in this paper is novel in leveraging large-scale, high-resolution downhole drilling dysfunction data combined with surface and contextual data to generate actionable insights for drilling operations personnel. The tool has already proven its value through numerous use cases, including the sample of cases discussed in this paper.