“Umid-Babek” is a high-pressure ~15K gas/gas-condensate fields with average well depth 6500 m MD. UBOC currently operates the “Umid-1” offshore platform. Drilling operations in “Umid” are executed in the complex geological environment, including intense structural deformation, especially at crest, characterized by variety of structural styles, presence of shallows gas, high overburden pressures, risk of centroid effects and depressurized, depleted formations.
“Umid-1” offshore platform located 75 km southwest of Absheron peninsula placed in 2008 by SOCAR at 58 meter of water depth. Drilling operations started in 2009 with “U1-082 exploration well drilling. Prior to drilling operations 6 x 32" conductor pipes were driven to the ~ 120 meters by SOCAR Construction Trust.
Five wells drilled in a period of 2009 – 2017. SOCAR Complex Drilling Works Trust drilled three wells (U1-08, U1-10 ST2 and U1-12 ST) and two wells (U1-14ST, U1-16) were drillied by SOCAR-AQS on a “turnkey” conditions basis.
Starting from 2018, UBOC came to a decision to expand own drilling and completions teams with further plans to deliver wells on “day rate” T&Cs based contracts. Certain well design changes made by UBOC engineering team on “U1-16” well, that allowed increasing production from 1 Mm3 to 2 Mm3. “U1-16” is the first well completed by UBOC completion team utilizing coiled tubing conveyed perforating guns coupled with Live Well Deployment.
“U1-18 ST” development well was the first well drilled by UBOC team on “day rate” T&Cs basis which resulted in highly significant cost saving, acceleration in time vs depth and overall well delivery quality in comparison to previously drilled wells on “Umid-1” platform.
Since 2019, UBOC has expanded its personnel, hiring additional staff for well planning, execution, warehouse management, and logistics. Warehouse capacity has been increased to accommodate all necessary well construction equipment. Initial wells drilled under the “day rate” T&Cs took longer than anticipated, but it demonstrated UBOC's capability for successful well planning and execution.
Later, as a part of the “Umid-1” acceleration program, two additional well slots added to the current platform design. Conductor driving campaign’s full execution cycle including: engineering, construction, planning and execution successfully completed by UBOC team. This was a first time in SOCAR when 36” conductor successfully driven from the life platform using the hydraulic hammer systems. During the planning and execution of the project, UBOC applied number of technological innovations (hydraulic hammer, pipe and connector design, size, closed end drive shoe and many more) which enhanced project success. This approach allowed deepening conductor drive down to 183m BRT and most importantly, UBOC managed to implement well design improvement minimizing risks at top hole intervals resulting in better well integrity and shortening drilling time.
After conductor driving campaign, field development campaign on “Umid-1” resumed with drilling “U1-20” producer well. The well spudded in 2022 and drilled to 6540m MD in 267 days making a record among all other wells drilled in “Umid” field. D&C operations at Umid-1 have seen remarkable improvement in terms of drilling efficiency (62%), well integrity, well cost savings (25%) and successfully handed over to production. Moreover, UBOC D&C has been deeply involved in entire “Umid” HP gas condensate field development plan, including “Umid” South Flank appraisal, “Umid-2” (North Flank) appraisal, “Babek” shallow water exploration wells planning.
The “Umid South Flank” well, will be first appraisal / exploration subsea well in SOCAR, and to be drilled using the 2200 HP Jack up rig. The well will be the most challenging well in SOCAR, with the well depth around 7000 meters BRT. Depending on results, main wellbore is planned to be abandoned with sidetrack hole sections drilled into the reservoir following the well testing operations and production.
Maintaining an extensive pool of almost 100% local D&C expertise having overseas knowledge and experience as well as in Caspian Region. Upon the end of the well operations the detailed well analysis, (including capturing lesson learned, equipment and vendor performance assessment, reports, non-compliances allowing UBOC D&C teams continuously moving forward and working on further optimization that includes casing design modifications of operational strategies along with use of new and latest generation technologies to ensure safer, smarter and faster operations.
The mission of UBOC’s Subsurface, Drilling and Completion Engineering departments is to plan, drill, complete and workover high quality, cost-effective wells, fulfilling Quality, Health, Safety and Environment standards to meet SOCAR’s corporate objectives.
UBOC Drilling and Completion teams independently manage entire wells projects, from early planning, management to regulatory compliance and wellsite supervision. The team is appropriately staffed with cementing, drilling fluids, sub-sea engineering, rig intake and well integrity specialists.