The aim of the global library of well data is to tackle well integrity issues, ITF said, to provide users with accurate and reliable information about a broader range of well types than is currently available.
Although there are a number of wells databases now they tend to be specific in subject matter, focusing on electric submersible pumps, progressive cavity pumps or subsea wells.

The proposed database, according to Offshore Energy Today, will be more comprehensive, consisting of a broad range of well types and the associated construction components such as tubulars, completion components, wellhead and Christmas tree items.

Project participants hope it will allow more accurate assumptions regarding prediction of workover or intervention requirements, flow assurance, scaling, corrosion and tendency for hydrate formation.

The initiative is being spearheaded by Simon Sparke, Group Head of Well Integrity for Tullow Oil.

“Over time,” he said, “this will develop into a vast library of wells and their associated parts so that a range of interrogations can be carried out to identify which components provide the most reliable operating efficiencies and under what operating circumstances.

“Furthermore, I hope that existing databases can be knitted together into the new package to provide a significantly more powerful tool.”

Discussions are already underway with data librarians and to date more than ten operating companies have shown interest in joining the project.

Will Davies, senior technology analyst with ITF said: “Information sharing on a global basis could transform the industry’s ability to manage well stock more efficiently and ultimately improve safety.

“We have already seen a healthy level of interest in this project, but the key to its success is in maximising the amount of data collected in order to build up an accurate and representative picture of the performance of well components operating under a range of conditions encountered by users. In other words, the value of the database will increase with the number of active participants.”

CAPTION: Simon Sparke, Group Head of Well Integrity for Tullow Oil.