DWOPs
Introduction
The benefits of a DWOP
We’ve mentioned different benefits earlier in the article, but for clarity, here’s a list:
1. There’s increasing scrutiny from regulatory bodies. A comprehensive DWOP shows the
operators commitment to due diligence.
2. Most oil companies’ well delivery-assurance processes require DWOPs.
3. Potential exposures are identified in advance so that they don’t turn into actual losses.
4. With hundreds of years of experience in one room, the fresher experts can learn from those that
have ‘seen everything’.
5. Lessons learned from a broad variety of experiences get shared in the context of the current
project.
6. Opportunities to avoid non-productive time (NPT) are identified.
7. The sheer number of years of experience between delegates will include first-hand advice
about most well control and production situations.
8. The act of a dry run with the same people that you’ll be dealing with in stress situations aids
mental preparation and helps you to understand the personality mix.
9. New experts and advisors can be brought in to cover specific concerns in advance, rather than
once a challenge presents itself in the field.
10. Decisions get made with the luxury of time and thought through without fear of consequences;
this is different to a real-time decision on the rig.
11. Ground rules and understandings are implemented for improved communication flow and
decision-making hierarchy between different companies on different payrolls.
The workshop
As previously mentioned, the decision makers and stakeholders from the operator, drilling
contractor, service contractors and equipment providers all join together in one room but
initially stay in groups. Each team independently goes over the steps of the drill plan. They
identify areas for improvement and further discussion. They also set targets and goals
measures in both financial and time measurements.
Then, all groups join together to share their findings and goals. There are always dozens of
ideas, grey areas and potential challenges, none of which are identified by all groups.
Together, new steps and solutions are formulated, which result in a goal setting and target
consensus.
Sometimes, two separate steps can be combined to increase efficiency substantially. Other
times failure points get identified in original plans, that would have a high probability of a
critical incident. Occasionally, an entirely different type of rig or drilling process gets chosen.
The primary measure of performance is the number of days to get to each stage of the well.
After all, by far the most significant cost involved is the daily cost of the rig and crew.
Together, the group estimates the technical limit, which is the theoretical amount of time to
create the ‘perfect well.’ Then, based on previous experience in the shortfall between ‘actual’
and ‘perfect’, a benchmark is established, perhaps at 80% of the technical limit. Now,
everyone concerned knows what they need to achieve to be at the pinnacle of the industry,
with one eye on perfection.
Clients tend to opt for either a DWOP or an i-DWOP, with some clients asking
for a DWOP early in the program and an i-DWOP as the team drills and
DWOP from the start, except that it requires a lot more preparation and
discipline.
Difference between a
DWOP and an i-DWOP
Drill-well-on-paper (DWOP) is a term that grew through the application of the
the mid-1990s. The methodology has been given a variety of names: Shell
recognition of the fact that it about more than ‘just Drilling’. BP called it ‘Tech
Limits’ or ‘Tech Limit’. BG called it TVD (Total Value Drilling). TOTAL’s version
rp² have worked with the TL pioneers and all the companies above (and more)
and have developed our own tailored offering, Living the Limit.
and others using an ‘ask the experts’ by involving the crew/operatives, and
However, there has been a dilution of this approach, for a variety of reasons.
‘performance’.
An i-DWOP is exactly what it says, and includes a strong focus on
maximize their performance. It will always look back at what lessons have
been learnt, and if there is recent team history, it will include discussion on the
The more disciplined clients will use our Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) at
their DWOPs. These are similar in layout to the Look-Ahead (LAH) that a
Drilling Supervisor would use to plan business and are often derived from the
LAH. At the DWOP, the WBS will be discussed in the group-work, with
At an i-DWOP, the WBS will be also be used to stimulate discussion about the
‘perfect time’. Reference times will be provided, and the groups challenged to
come up with their own ‘perfect time’. Whilst the times can be quite subjective,
the value lies in the conversations about what’s possible and what we need to
make it happen.
• Meetings have become routine, drab and lack sparkle – “death on legs”.
Often operators cannot remember the reasons that DWOPs were adopted in
• Report delivered promptly with LOG sheet of actions and lessons learnt
closes out, leaving the clients team to design the well and prepare the
work program.
This document summarizes how we do our DWOPs and i-DWOPs, what you
is normally conducted a short while before the start of operations, where a few
personnel from the Service Companies are invited to a crowded meeting room
to “learn” more about the program. Little surprise that those kinds of meetings
generate precious little discussion; they are very much “one way”.
the (separate) ‘pre-spud’ a short meeting held on the rig for all personnel, or a
meeting held immediately prior to spud to assure that we have our ducks in a
row.
Our DWOP workshops are used to engage as many personnel as possible
(particularly the well-site team), to review and improve the program, whilst
there is still time to do something with their input. Nowadays, that includes the
obligation to ensure that the risk and mitigations have been discussed.
Attendees :
Oil Company personnel: Drilling Supt, Drilling Engineers, Drilling Supv (Day &
Night), Wellsite Drilling Engineers, Logistics personnel (rig and office), Ops
Service Company co-ordinators are invited, but the real value lies in the
Asst Driller and could include Derrickmen and Roustabout Foremen. For
Typical Format :
After the project and safety aspirations are presented, the subsurface
objectives and the well design are explained (including risks & opportunities),
detail. Typical group material is logistics, drilling various hole sections, casing
running & cementing, BOP running and other surface equipment work,
presents these. We have a template that we email out to ensure that we focus
on what’s important.
paper), the latter allowing for the quieter, shy and/or junior delegates to
participate. After 2-4 hours of review, everyone comes back together and
discusses the top 3-5 items of each group. All items are captured. Typically,
Additional content :
The more determined clients use Supervisor Alignment Sessions and/or our
Our i-DWOPs include an abridged version of; depending on team maturity this
Service Co and Drilling Co are involved in presenting ‘recent learning and how
The workshops are always conducted in an informal, fun manner. You will see
You will need to appoint a single point of contact for us to funnel all
⇒ Preliminary groupings.
We then :
⇒ Work with you to get all the above in place, advising on venues, agendas
and so on.
⇒ Assist you in selecting the best date (to tie in with rig-crew normally).
⇒ Track responses.
⇒ Issue pre-read.
Nearer the time, we mobilize to your office, at least 2 full working days
beforehand to :
⇒ Pull together all the work material that the groups need.
⇒ Chase up attendees.
⇒ Review Risk Assessment and ensure relevant sections will be tabled at the
⇒ Ensure lessons learnt have been tabled (we can help you use our LOG
format).
⇒ Ensure the WBS has reference ‘perfect times’ in it On the day we will:
Afterwards (typically the next day), we will locate to your office and:
⇒ Type up the output (see below).