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Australian Energy Producers Journal Australian Energy Producers Journal Society
Journal of Australian Energy Producers
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Non peer reviewed)

Using technology and innovation to deliver a step change in CSG workover rig services

Tim Phelan
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Operations North Broadspectrum & Easternwell, Level 4, 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane, Qld 4101, Australia. Email: tphelan@easternwell.com.au

The APPEA Journal 58(2) 733-735 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ17142
Accepted: 26 March 2018   Published: 28 May 2018

Abstract

The well servicing industry is demanding technology solutions that continually improve safety and productivity performance.

Through in-field experience, the Advantage Light Rig (ALR) has been developed, specifically designed to service existing coal seam gas (CSG) wells and install infrastructure in newly drilled wells, to significantly improve the safety and productivity performance of workover operations by reducing the time taken to deliver a workover from 5.5 to 2.5 days.

Designed and built in Toowoomba, the ALR ‘factory-style’ rig has allowed additional efficiencies to be applied across operations from the training and capability of the staff who operate these rigs to the support operations that enable the rigs to perform, such as warehousing, workshop maintenance, transport, aviation, training and camp operations.

In addition to improved rig technology and innovation, further cost efficiencies can be achieved by collecting real-time operational data. Using intelligent analytics to improve logistics management (rig and vehicle movements, workforce planning, supply chain) and asset utilisation (electronic tour reporting, engineering and maintenance, camp capacities) will reduce costs and improve services.

New enabling technologies and innovations like the ALR (and the Advantage Light Rig Extra) and the intelligent analysis of real-time operational data help improve business performance by reconfiguring products and processes. Through a deliberate investment in innovation and by leveraging operational data, the resources industry will benefit from improved safety and productivity performance.

Keywords: analytics, coal seam gas, cost, CSG, data, drilling, energy, infrastructure, innovation, intelligent, lean, performance, productivity, resources, rig, safety, services, technology, workover.

Tim Phelan is the Executive General Manager, Operations North Broadspectrum & Easternwell. Tim has more than 25 years’ experience working both nationally and internationally in the oil, gas and power generation industries. His roles have encompassed engineering, construction, shutdowns, drilling, well servicing and camp management. He has been responsible for managing and growing the business safely, innovatively, productively and sustainably. Tim commenced as Executive General Manager for Easternwell in mid-2014 and has recently moved into the role of Executive General Manager Operations North Broadspectrum & Easternwell. He is a member of Broadspectrum’s Indigenous Advisory Board and Sponsor of the Graduate Program. Tim holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a post graduate diploma in Project Management from the Queensland University of Technology.