Well planning
& Engineering

Eliminating the gap between design intent and field execution.

Lucas delivers an integrated engineering-led drilling solution where well-design, trajectory control, and execution are tightly aligned.

By combining real-time operational feedback with upfront engineering design, we ensure consistent wellbore placement, predictable performance, and reduced operational risk; particularly in complex directional and in-seam drilling.

Get in touchDownload our capability statement

Why use an in-house engineering team?

Our in-house engineering capability removes the disconnect between design intent and field execution—ensuring faster decisions, better outcomes, and reduced cost.
 
Key Points:

  • Single-source accountability
Design, modelling, and field execution sit within one team—eliminating misalignment between third-party engineers and drilling crews.
  • Real-time engineering support
Engineering decisions are continuously refined using live field data (trajectory response, downhole behaviour, hole conditions), not static pre-job assumptions.
  • Faster decision-making + reduced NPT
No lag between consultant recommendations and rig implementation.
  • Fit-for-purpose design, not generic engineering
Solutions are developed around actual rig capability, hydraulics, and operational constraints rather than theoretical models.
  • Optimised cost structure
Eliminates duplicated scope, conflicting recommendations, and inefficiencies typically seen when clients engage separate engineering consultants and drilling contractors.

How do we solve the toughest problems?

Lucas Engineering specialises in high-complexity wells where standard drilling practices break down.
Our in-house engineering capability removes the disconnect between design intent and field execution - ensuring faster decisions, better outcomes, and reduced cost.
 
Key Challenge Areas where Lucas engineering division thrives:

  • Directional Control in Unpredictable Geology
    Mitigating faulting and steering errors through live formation evaluations.
  • Extended Reach & High-Inclination Wells
    Overcoming mechanical limits by modeling torque, drag, and hydraulics prior to spudding.
  • Precision In-Seam drilling
    Maximising zone residency inside thin target targets to optimise mine degasification.

Drilling optimisation

Lucas Engineering combines industry-standard well planning software with in-house modelling tools and real-time operational data to design and continuously optimise complex wells.
 
Well Planning & Trajectory Design:

  • Industry-standard directional planning tools, Anti-collision, and uncertainty analysis (Compass™, WellPlan®)
    Torque & Drag, Casing, Cementing, Hydraulics & Hole Cleaning Modelling
  • Pre-job modelling with specialised software (Halliburton WellPlan) and live calibration using rig data obtained through Electronic Drilling Recording systems/platforms.

Lucas uses quantified engineering limits and real-time validation to safely push well reach while maintaining control and reducing cost. Lucas Engineering combines industry-standard well planning software with in-house modelling tools and real-time operational data to design and continuously optimise complex wells.
 
Key Drilling Metrics:

  • Torque & Drag
  • Hole Cleaning Performance
  • BHA Performance Indicators
  • Trajectory Accuracy
  • ROP

Tell Us About Engineering at Lucas

Every successful hole drilled on site starts on the drawing board. Our team loves to solve complex drilling challenges and raise the bar across Australia’s major resource basins.

Safety in Design (SiD) & Compliance

Engineering out risk before mobilisation.

At Lucas, we apply strict Safety in Design (SiD) principles during the initial well-planning phase. Rather than managing hazards reactively on the rig floor, our engineering team systematically identifies, quantifies, and eliminates operational and geological risks at the drawing board.

  • Proactive Hazard Elimination
    We analyse target geology, directional constraints, and pore pressures to engineer out structural risks—such as wellbore instability or collision paths - well before a rig is mobilised.
  • Quantified Operational Envelopes
    Every well design delivers clear, data-backed operational constraints and Safe Operating Practices (SOPs), providing field crews with rigid boundaries for safe execution.
  • Structured Risk & Hazard Reviews
    We facilitate formal, multi-disciplinary risk assessments (including HAZOPs and Peer Reviews) to track, mitigate, and reduce residual risk to As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP).
  • Systematic Management of Change (MOC)
    Risks identified during planning are seamlessly bridged to field operations through robust Trigger Action Response Plans (TARPs) and standardised pre-spud checks.
Aligned with Tier-1 Industry Standards

Our SiD framework seamlessly integrates with our clients' internal management systems, ensuring full compliance with absolute transparency:

  • HSEQ-First Philosophy
    Safety is treated as a core engineering metric, alongside ROP and trajectory accuracy.
  • Seamless System Integration
    Harmonising Lucas safety protocols with client-specific site requirements.
  • Continuous Feedback Loop
    Post-project reviews capture field data to refine and optimise subsequent well-design programmes.

Mitigate Risk Before You Mobilise.

Put an engineering-led drilling team in charge of your next complex well program. Get in touch with us to discuss your next project with a Lucas well planning specialist.

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