Controlled Directional Drilling in Kenya and Iceland (Time Analysis)

Abstract

Directional drilling enables more wells to be drilled from the same pad, allows for fewer rig moves, less surface area disturbance hence making it easier and cheaper to exploit the resource. The technique allows the driller to steer the well to the target with high precision allowing for exploitation of resources that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to reach. Almost 50% of the total time in directional drilling is spent on activities that are not related to actual cutting of the formation. Minimising time spent on these activities will reduce the total drilling time per well and reduce drilling costs. Average depth drilled per day in Iceland is about 56m, and for Kenya it is about 48 m. Average depth of the Icelandic wells is 2379m drilled in 41 days while the average depth for Kenyan wells is 2830m drilled in 58 days. Compared to Iceland, drilling rate in Kenya lags behind by 4 days for the same depth. For power projects the cost of drilling geothermal wells for production or reinjection is about 40% of the project’s total investment. Half of the drilling cost comes from rental of the rigs and services while the other half is from materials and infrastructure.