Modeling in the oil and gas industry is applied to all facets of operations, from upstream exploration activity to downstream refining of the crude oil to marketing of the finished product. The purpose of modeling is to improve an understanding of any problem at hand that is usually associated with the expenditure of money. It can be simple calculations on a piece of paper or a complex computer model that incorporates several variables. Important questions for any model to answer include: How much material will it take? How may people will be involved? How long will it take? How much money will it cost? Can it be done?

Drilling a well into a reservoir is an expensive and time-consuming operation fraught with risk. Just because one well was drilled without a problem does not mean that the next well will be a straightforward, trouble-free operation. Drilling modeling can involve preplanning aspects of a well and research to improve our understanding of various aspects of well drilling, from drillbit selection or drillstring configuration to the composition of drilling fluids. Another type of modeling involves software that gathers real-time drilling information that is used to monitor a well while drilling. Engineers and geoscientists can use these models to monitor well progress, compare real data to well prognosis, and model various scenarios that may yet occur, given the data already acquired.

University petroleum engineering departments are involved in modeling to provide a research tool and improve our understanding of this operation. It provides the students with more of a hands-on aspect of drilling without actual well costs. Companies that provide field services or software to the oil and gas industry also have developed drilling models. These models will monitor and gather real-time data during drilling. Manufacturers of drilling components may use simple models to help design components to withstand the pressures and temperatures encountered in the subsurface.

NETL is involved in developing a drilling model to improve our understanding of percussion drilling.  Percussion drilling has some theoretical advantages over rotary drilling, but applying these advantages in the field has proven difficult. This particular model will look at the interactions between the drillbit and rock as well as the removal of drill cuttings. Modeling this operation is considerably cheaper than building a bit and testing it in a well.

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