Schlumberger unveils fluid mapping-while-drilling service
At this year's Offshore Technology Conference, oilfield services company Schlumberger unveiled the industry's first service that delivers downhole fluid composition during drilling. SpectraSphere is designed to service a range of environments, from exploration wells to highly-deviated development wells. The service offers real-time fluid mapping by providing insight into fluid properties — such as typing, compositions, fractions and gas to oil ratios — in real time while drilling is taking place. Field tests of SpectraSphere were conducted in the Middle East, the Gulf of Mexico, the North Sea, Africa and offshore Malaysia.
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By taking accurate pressure measurements and analysing fluids while drilling, the SpectraSphere service enables real-time decisions that help improve geosteering outcomes, guide wells to the ideal trajectory, and access more reserves (photo: Schlumberger)

Schlumberger has launched the new SpectraSphere* fluid mapping-while-drilling service at the 2017 Offshore Technology Conference.

The service is the industry’s first to deliver downhole fluid composition during drilling with real-time pressure measurements-while-drilling. Applicable in a variety of environments, from exploration wells to highly deviated development wells, SpectraSphere lowers risks associated with fluid analysis and sampling operations while enhancing well placement, maximising reservoir contact and ultimately boosting future production.

“Understanding the parameters of the reservoir in real time is critical for all our customers during all stages of field development,” says Richard Brown, president, Drilling & Measurements, Schlumberger. “The SpectraSphere service enables customers to obtain laboratory-quality fluid analysis while drilling, which reduces the overall cost of operations and risks associated with conventional fluid analysis.”

The SpectraSphere service is the industry’s only service to enable real-time fluid mapping by providing critical fluid properties, including fluid composition, fluid typing, fluid fractions and gas/oil ratio while drilling. The reliable characterisation of these properties is essential for estimating reserves, optimising completions, designing surface facilities and meeting production goals.

The service has been field tested in the Gulf of Mexico, Middle East, Africa, the North Sea and offshore Malaysia. While developing a field offshore Malaysia, a customer used the new service to acquire formation fluid samples and pressure measurements in a highly deviated wellbore that intersected pressure-depleted zones with increased risk of differential sticking. The customer obtained all fluid samples and pressure measurements in one run, with fluid samples showing less than 1% contamination. The customer completed sampling in two hours per station and eliminated the need to conduct further formation testing in two additional wells, saving three operating days.

*Mark of Schlumberger