OPTIMIZATION OF PARAMETERS FOR DRILLING OF HARD ROCKS IN PETROLEUM EXPLORATION

Abstract

Pakistan‘s economy is experiencing a steady growth and the industrial sector is poised to contribute significantly towards the economy. In this context, the availability of energy at competitive rates is vital for Pakistan‘s industry in order for it to compete internationally. The role of petroleum based fuels in powering the economy is significant and evident from the fact that out of 20.4 GW of installed electricity generation capacity in Pakistan, thermal power plants account for 66% of this figure as against 32% contributed by hydal power generation. With the electricity requirements increasing in the country, most of the thermal power is generated by fuel oil and natural gas. Out of these, fuel oil is mostly imported while natural gas reserves in the country are limited and expected to be depleted by 20 years owing to heavy industrial and domestic usage. It is therefore expedient to explore new deposits of petroleum resources in the country, so as to reduce the import bill and provide fuel at economic price to enable industrial growth. In Pakistan, petroleum deposits are often found in hard rock formations as well as greater depths. There is therefore a strong need to optimize the drilling process by identifying the key process variables that contribute towards drill bit wear and drill life. Based on this analysis and field data, the drill life can be mapped against the dominant process parameters so that a window of optimal performance can be identified.