9/18/2017 Measuring Non Productive Time to minimize Drilling Flat Times | Nichlavos Alappat | Pulse | LinkedIn

Measuring Non Productive Time to

minimize Drilling Flat Times
Published on July 15, 2015

Nichlavos Alappat Following

8 1 0
Quality Manager at Binzagr Factory for Insulation Materials Co. Ltd

In any drilling operations the operators goal is to minimize flat

times and maximize drilling times. Non-productive time
(NPT) is time when drilling operations do not occur i.e. when
drill bit is pulled out of hole and to when it is run back to same
depth to resume drilling. NPT include time required to nipple
up and nipple down BOP stack, pressure test of BOP, tripping
of drill string, slip and cut time, casing run times. Operations
such as make up or laid down BHA, logging, fishing, jarring, wait on crew and
equipment is also part of NPT.

Operators often develop a target to complete these NPT tasks, however fail to define the
details or definition of their measurement. Also the same target is applied over
dissimilar rigs, which is unfair.

The definition of what a BOP nipple time or what BOP pressure test time could vary
from one person to another. One rig manager may include the installation of bell nipple
and flow line to the shaker as part of nipple up time, which the other rig managers
perception of nipple up is only setting the BOP and rigging up the hard lines. Not all
rigs have the same number of hard lines, HPHT drilling rigs may utilize additional
choke and kill lines. One rig may have a BOP transport skid that allows the whole stack
to be transported as a single skid, and the other rig may not have similar options require
the later to be assembled one by one on the well head. As for BOP pressure test time the
rig that has a suitable test stump will outperform rig that does not have such privilege.

Some contractors indicate a tripping speed target of 1600 foot per hour must be
achieved, but do not define tripping speed. The tripping speed are significantly lower
when making up or laying down drill pipe as singles, also lower for reaming, back
reaming, fishing, logging and more. Tripping out or running into a highly deviated hole
the tripping speeds would experience as decline. Tripping speeds also vary slightly with
type of BHA, hole size and condition, frequency of fill up, drill pipe size and BHP.
Casing run speeds such as 9 Joints per hours may be dictated for 18 5/8 inch casing run,
however fail to differentiate if the 18 5/8 inch would be the first casing in the hole or
not. A well in which 18 5/8 inch is the first casing to be run will not be able to run in as
fast as when there were prior 24 inch or other larger casing ran.

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9/18/2017 Measuring Non Productive Time to minimize Drilling Flat Times | Nichlavos Alappat | Pulse | LinkedIn

All drilling companies must develop a definition for their NPT KPI after discussing
with operator if they have target for these KPI, else it is best of get the opinion of rig
personnel when these definition are made. The definition of these KPI should be sent to
all operational personnel within the company to ensure that what is measured is same
across the companys operational fleet. Analyzing results can bring conclusion to
develop multiple target for the same operation. The target set for BOP pressure test time
if a rig has a stack or not, would be different. A target set should not be the best in
classs, but definitely above average. Once targets are set, rigs that take more time to
nipple up, nipple down, BOP pressure test and those that have slower than target casing
run speed and tripping speeds could be closely monitored to see why these rigs function
as they are. Operational management and engineering can then suggest and implement
more planning prior to task to be performed, better equipment, rig modification or
upgrades, better experienced crew to meet the target set. Once improvements are
achieved on each rig, controls and checks are put in place to maintain these targets, Back to LinkedIn.com

thereby reducing NPT and increase drilling time.

Tagged in: drilling fluids,drilling engineering Report this

Nichlavos Alappat
Quality Manager at Binzagr Factory for Insulation Materials Co. Ltd (BFIM) Following
3 articles

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Leave your thoughts here

Isaac Fox 1y
Systems Application Specialist, Land Drilling and Production at Caterpillar Inc.
Interesting discussion of NPT / KPI calculations and improvements ... I'm interested in finding ways
that we can dierentiate our products for drilling (engines and gensets) and would like to know if there
are any ways that you think the engine design / performance / packaging contributes to NPT or could
be changed to shorten NPT.
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