The article "An optimization technique based on mechanical specific energy concept to improve drilling efficiency: a case study" by researchers from Sahand University of Technology (Tabriz) has been published in the scientific journal "Journal of Mining Institute" (Zapiski Gornogo Instituta).
The cost of drilling a well in the oil and gas sector can now amount to hundreds of millions of rubles. Dozens or even hundreds of wells are drilled at a single field. Improving drilling efficiency significantly impacts the overall profitability of oil production projects. One of the primary methods is the optimization of Mechanical Specific Energy (MSE). This approach not only saves on energy supply but also reduces operational costs overall, as excessive power leads to drill string vibrations and increased bit wear.
The search for an effective MSE optimization model has been ongoing since at least 1965. In the presented research, Iranian scientists analyzed a number of the most widely used models using field data from one of the largest onshore oil fields in the southwestern part of the country and proposed their own model. Compared to previous developments, it provides specific energy values closer to the rock's confined compressive strength, and it accounts for the influence of parameters such as Weight on Bit (WOB), Rate of Penetration (ROP), drilling fluid flow rate, and the mechanical efficiency factor.
Using their model, the scientists identified an inefficient drilling zone in the studied well, where the applied energy, excessive compared to the rock strength, led to damage of the drilling tool and a significant reduction in the penetration rate.
Sahand University of Technology has joined the large-scale joint research and publication activities of the Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University and Shiraz University. About a hundred researchers from Russia and Iran are already involved in the joint project "Nadezhda - Mobile Intelligence," with 13 scientific teams formed. In 2024, eight articles based on the joint research were published in journals ranked in the first and second quartiles according to the international ranking system.
