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PETROMAKS2-Stort program petroleum

Drilling simulator based research collaboration on drilling process modelling

Alternative title: Boresimulator basert forskningssamarbeid på boreprosess-modellering

Awarded: NOK 0.99 mill.

Drilling is becoming an increasingly challenging task, worldwide. In Norway, depleted reservoirs significantly reduce the geopressure windows, so that advanced pressure control techniques need to be developed. In Brazil, deep-water wells necessitate the use of non-standard drilling technologies. Those new challenges all require a deep understanding of the physical behaviour of the well during drilling operations. The goal of this project if to develop shared simulation platform to enhance the collaboration between IRIS and UIS researchers on the Norwegian side and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) researchers on the Brazilian side. This collaboration platform will be based on the Virtual Rig simulator developed by IRIS: it is a computer program that models in real-time the response of a wellbore to the stimuli generated by the driller (pipe movements, rotation, fluid circulation). A web based version of the simulator will be installed at the Brazilian university, and used as a common tool: all partners will have the possibility to steer the simulations and visualize the same results in real-time. When the collaboration platform is in place, all the involved researchers will start working on the various challenges related to both Norwegian and Brazilian shelves, including research on drilling modeling and new drilling technologies simulations. Research cooperation will also profit from the various travels and exchanges related to the installation of the simulator. Finally, the installed simulator will also serve as an educational tool for the Brazilian students, and may help to generate exchanges between UIS and the Brazilian university.

The project will be mandatory for establishing the facilities and the foundation for continuous research cooperation between International Research Institute of Stavanger (IRIS) and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) in Brazil within drilling process modelling. The aim of the research cooperation shall be to provide new and better drilling process models, where such development shall in the long run result in new and improved comm ercial applications for managing the drilling process. A secondary objective of the cooperation is the development of simulator based courses for educational purposes. The project consists of two main phases: 1. Establish copies of the IRIS´ Mini Virtua l Rig simulator at UFRJ laboratory facilities 2. Establish research activities based on the common scientific tool that is the Virtual Rig, and in developing university courses based on the use of the Virtual Rig by students. The first phase of t he ISP requires the venue of UFRJ personal to IRIS for an initial demonstration, training and establishment of the requirements for the open Virtual Rig, and then the installation itself in Brazil by IRIS personnel. During those two sequences of t ravels, scientific exchanges under the form of guest lectures from both partners will take place. The second phase is built on the achievements on the first one, and consists in establishing research activities based on the common scientific tool that i s the Virtual Rig, and in developing university courses based on the use of the Virtual Rig by students. For those two activities, common seminars will take place, but the main meeting place will be the Virtual Rig, that will also work as a collaboration environment between the three partners.

Funding scheme:

PETROMAKS2-Stort program petroleum