Project Overview

Following the completion of a multi-well development drilling campaign, an operator engaged SPD to conduct an independent performance review. The campaign had broadly met its targets but had incurred significantly more non-productive time than planned. The operator suspected systemic issues in planning, contractor management and real-time decision-making had contributed to avoidable cost. Before committing to the next campaign, the operator wanted an honest external assessment of where value had been lost.

SPD’s Approach

SPD structured the review around three parallel workstreams: a data-driven NPT analysis drawing on all available daily drilling reports, mud logs, contractor reports and cost records; one-on-one interviews with key operator and contractor personnel; and a benchmarking exercise comparing campaign performance against analogous wells from SPD’s global database. Findings were presented at a structured workshop. Each finding was accompanied by a quantified value-of-improvement estimate and a specific, assignable recommendation.

Results & Value Delivered

✔ Root Causes Identified — Data triangulation across DDRs, interviews and global benchmarks produced a clear picture of where NPT originated.

✔ Value of Improvement Quantified — Estimates gave leadership a compelling business case for investing in identified changes.

✔ Next Campaign Better Planned — Improvement plan was integrated directly into next campaign planning, with measurable NPT reduction achieved.