With oil prices at a decade low, everyone is looking for new ways to shave costs. First, they take aim at the low-hanging fruit, cutting things they know that they can reasonably survive without. However, as pricing pressures continue, the decisions get tougher—and the results of those decisions become less predictable.

Faced with such difficult choices, asset managers have tried to maximize the use of every person and piece of equipment already on the rig. This is a logical and in many cases necessary step; however, it must be done carefully and judiciously to increase efficiency without sacrificing quality.

Quality is especially critical when tripping, handling, making up and running tubulars. In deepwater operations tubulars represent as much as 45% of total well construction costs. Such a cost-intensive asset segment demands a partner that can deliver reliable and timely service. Weatherford Tubular Running Services makes connection quality and integrity its primary concern.

Without a reliable torquing system that is backed up by real-time and recorded data, an operator may not know whether a connection is reliable until after it has been sent downhole. Torque/turn monitoring and analysis software brings visibility and quality control to the makeup process by sending real-time data to decision makers on the rig and in remote locations.

Not only must connections be made up correctly and securely, but this process must also be executed quickly and safely. Manual makeup is time-consuming and puts rig personnel in some of the most dangerous positions on the rig floor. Experienced technicians who are trained to recognize and control key connection parameters can help assure compliant makeup.

However, integrated, automated makeup is the most simple and cost-effective way to significantly reduce safety risks and nonproductive time while increasing connection quality. When used in concert, pipe alignment, torquing and casing-running systems create a seamless, efficient tubular program that results in integrity for the life of the well. An experienced tubular service provider can help select the best combination of equipment that will produce high-quality connections within the space and budget available.

For every 10 pipe failures, nine are rooted in poor connection quality. One failed connection can compromise the entire integrity of the asset and require time- and cost-consuming workovers. In the worst cases, where casing integrity is compromised, the only option might be to plug and abandon the well. Taken in real terms, the cost of a failed connection can range from $100,000 to several million dollars.

In the current economic environment, we all must make sacrifices. However, before making cuts, it’s important to weigh the longterm impact of these decisions. The cost to hire an experienced casing-running provider using top-shelf technologies might be harder to swallow in today’s climate, but it is much lower than the cost of failure. In an attempt to save cost during the well construction phase, operators might be actually adding millions in costly interventions and lost production. Investing in the right technology and services today will help boost efficiency, mitigate health and safety risks and enhance integrity for years to come.

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