A poorly designed contract can result in massive invisible losses throughout the duration of a project.

Gaia contract specialists have unique experience working in both technical and commercial positions with vendors. Their insights and approach will result in a well-designed contract, improved cost efficiencies, lowest possible contract value and minimal contract leakage for both Wireline and M/LWD.

Pre-qualification:
• Expression of Interest:  Compile a list of potential bidders.
• Technical Questionnaire:  Assess the technical suitability of potential bidders.
• Technical Audit (TA):   Confirm suitability of potential bidders.

Invitation to Tender:
• Scope of Work:  Define the technical requirements. 
• Commercial:  Define the pricing structure.
• EHS:  Assess EHS performance.  

Tender Evaluation:
• Technical Evaluation:  Evaluate technology proposed, organisational structure and personnel.
• Commercial Evaluation:  Evaluate indicative well costs for each bid.
• Technical Audit (TA):  Validate the bid.

Deliverables:   Recommendation to Award (RTA).

Formation Evaluation may be the single most important objective of a project.  A Technical Audit performed during tender pre-qualification is an invaluable tool to assess the vendor’s ability to deliver a high-quality service which satisfies the scope of work.  A Technical Audit performed at tender validation stage provides assurance that vendor mobilisation plans are in line with agreed targets and expectations, and may provide advance warning that additional resources and vendor engagement are required to reduce project risk.

Once the audit objectives and scope are defined, the audit methodology is tailored to suit, ensuring a systematic approach to provide measured and detailed findings.

A detailed report and audit debrief will ensure that appropriate actions are assigned to mitigate identified service delivery and operational risks.

Personnel:
• Personnel numbers and experience levels for management, supervisors, maintenance, and field personnel.
• Regional sourcing of maintenance, field personnel and support.
• Training, competency and certification.

Equipment & Maintenance:
• Availability, specifications, maintenance and testing of units, tools, auxiliary and support equipment.
• Facilities: laboratories, workshops, calibrations and cable spooling.
• Maintenance management systems, processes and compliance. 
• Maintenance quality & improvement plans.

Logistics & Supply Chain:
• Logistics, supply chain and procurement procedures.
• Critical inventory levels and lead times.
• Timelines for mobilisation of equipment.

Service Quality:
• Service quality management system.
• Failure reporting systems, analysis and lessons learned.
• Regional and local performance statistics.

Deliverables:  Detailed audit report & debrief, including any identified non-conformances, risks and suggested mitigations.

A well executed operation begins with a well planned and prepared operation, and our process is an integral part of the QA/QC cycle. Early involvement of Gaia consultants in the planning process will provide quality assurance and help deliver an acquisition strategy that prioritises clients' objectives, targets technical limits, and reduces operational risk.  

Involvement during the equipment preparation phase, especially for critical well environments such as HPHT, will provide quality control and help to identify and correct deficiencies in resourcing and readiness, and ultimately reduce unwanted exposure. 

For deep, tortuous and challenging wells, Gaia’s GCPS package offers specialised conveyance planning and risk assessments.

Acquisition Planning:
• Data acquisition programme design that ensures the well objectives and subsurface group data requirements are met.
• Optimised run combinations that target technical limits and reduce operational risk.
• Advanced tension modelling and conveyance strategy for challenging wells (Wire-pro and GCPS).

Log Well on Paper (LWOP)
• Review of the data acquisition programme to ensure the design and execution will meet the well objectives and that priorities are understood by all parties.
• Review the operating procedures and strategies to identify risks or opportunities for improved efficiencies.
• Identify, review and plan failure contingencies in order to mitigate risk.
• Review and incorporate lessons learned from the client’s previous operations and Gaia's database.
• Define and review data acquisition parameters and deliverables to ensure quality and consistency.

Equipment Loadout Inspection:
• Review equipment inventory to ensure compliance with the acquisition programme.
• In-depth review of maintenance status, including field modification records, heat qualification, failure history, certification and calibrations to ensure equipment is selected and prepared as per the client’s and vendor’s own internal standards and procedures.
• Quality control of System Integration Testing (SIT) to ensure equipment functionality is tested and verified according to agreed combinations and vendor’s standard operating procedures.

Deliverables:  
• Data acquisition programme.
• Detailed TPP report.

Gaia consultants bring invaluable leadership, knowledge and expertise to your wellsite. Our aim is to fully support all aspects of your formation evaluation operation, to deliver safe and flawless execution, providing high quality data assurance with minimal operational risk.

Preparation of Operations:
• Ensure that all necessary equipment has been delivered to the wellsite according to contractual obligations and technical requirements.
• Fully participate in the Safety Management Systems in place and review all available hazard and risk assessments for the operation.
• Ensure all System Integration Testing at the wellsite is completed, including primary and secondary equipment, capturing any technical issues prior to rig-up.
• Supervise and optimise job preparation in collaboration with the rig crew to ensure all possible tasks are completed prior to rig-up and off the critical path.
• Ensure all parties are familiar with the final data acquisition programme and well objectives, and that any identified risks are reviewed with the crew.
• Gaia consultants are also JNCC trained Marine Mammal Observers (MMO), and can provide MMO services which may satisfy the client’s Environmental Permit / Licence requirement.

Execution of Operations:
• Liaise with the client operations team and logging personnel to ensure safe and continuous execution of operations according to the programme, effective critical path time management, and smooth and efficient Management of Change where applicable.
• Continuous real-time reporting and review of data quality, that ensures accurate data in the minimum time, which equates to minimum risk in the borehole, facilitiates operational decision making, and captures any Service Delivery Issues (SDIs).
• Real time tension modelling and parameter refinement using Gaia’s proprietary Wire-pro software, validating modelling for subsequent runs, and allowing optimised conveyance planning for future operations.

Post Operations:
• Ensure timely and efficient demobilisation of equipment and personnel, minimising rental costs. 
• Report any SDIs accurately, impartially and fairly ensuring that all relevant information is captured to allow proper follow-up and failure investigation.
• Conduct an after-action review of operational highlights, lowlights & SDIs to identify and document lessons learned in Gaia and client’s lesson learned databases as part of the continuous improvement process.  
• Quality control of data deliverables ensuring accuracy, completeness and compliance to client’s standard operating procedures.
• Ensure the service ticket is an accurate reflection of rentals, operations performed and services provided.
• Provide a comprehensive WQC report which captures all applicable outputs, including service and operational Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), allowing clients to objectively measure their service provider’s performance and identify areas for improvement.

Deliverables: 
• WQC report
• Daily report / Time breakdown
• Formation pressure testing & sampling report
• Formation coring report
• Vertical Seismic Profile (VSP) report
• Wire-pro tension & conveyance model report
• SDI reports where applicable 

Gaia consultants have unique skills and experience which can offer valuable insights post-operation resulting in cost savings even when not directly involved in a client’s Wireline or M/LWD operations.

Invoice Audit:
Service tickets and invoices for formation evaluation services may be complex, may not comply with contractual compensation schemes and are often inaccurate. Auditing of invoices by Gaia consultants will identify any inaccuracies and can result in significant cost savings.

Failure Investigation:
An audit to scrutinise the vendor follow-up and investigation in case of equipment or service failure will ensure an open and transparent investigation that correctly identifies root causes, effective preventative actions and documents lessons learned, significantly minimising the risk of similar repeat failures and additional costs.

Where a failure is attributed to well conditions, and the client is liable for repair costs, these may be very significant charges, and the audit can confirm that any costs for repair or replacement are reasonable, warranted and comply with contractual obligations.