Technological Advancements in Directional Drilling

The directional drilling industry has experienced a paradigm shift in the last few decades. This transition has been possible due to the technological advancements in Directional Drilling. This drilling technique has found a valued place in the oilfields worldwide owing to its application in drilling multiple wells from a single location, drilling to inaccessible surface locations, and in hitting multiple target zones.

Modern-day directional drilling is well planned on the computer. Geoscientists and engineers are now equipped with technologies, integrated and interactive tools such as 3D visualization and 3D earth models. This allows them to visualize, construct, and optimize the well paths through reservoir targets. Several other newly developed technologies are enhancing directional drilling, solving major problems faced by the drilling industry.

Here are some of the most important innovations taking place around the world to improve directional drilling!

Automation by Directional Drilling Companies

Oil and gas operators performing directional drilling have often been helpless when it comes to consistently track a prescribed well path. Additionally, it becomes difficult to hit and stay within the limits identified by geologists, geophysicists, and engineers. Guiding the bit tool with an adequate rate of penetration (ROP) is considered more art than science. A lag on the technological front of the directional drilling technology has put it behind other technical advances. Strained by cuts in the budget, operators are demanding improved accuracy and quality in well placement.

Amidst this backdrop, Motive Drilling Technologies created a premier directional drilling bit guidance system, which automates decision-making at the rig. Use of the system has resulted in wells drilled with more consistency in less time, with more accuracy and more production potential and, in some cases, with lesser personnel. The bit guidance system employs a high-performance computer, providing a better data-driven automated decision-making process. Motive’s remarkable automation system automatically performs standard directional drilling calculations.  In an on-site experiment, Motive’s bit guidance system enabled rigs to drill 25% faster and with twice the accuracy.

In another example, Precision Drilling was able to almost eliminate directional drillers on rigs by employing a computerized drilling advisory system. The automation system was developed by Schlumberger and Pason Systems.

Various other companies attempted in the past to automate the drilling process as well, such as Shell. The Dutch oil major developed an automated program, called the SCADADrill, which was used to drill multilateral wells. Shell gradually improvised upon the technology, making it more cost-driven by 2016. The automated system embedded functionality into rigs native control system. It has received an initial indication of successful deployment in the Permian basin.

Directional Drilling Tools: Drilling better with MEMS Sensors

The directional drilling sensor technology is taking a huge step with the invention of new Micro-Electro-Mechanical systems (MEMS) sensors. The MEMS sensors are transforming the way directional drilling has been performed by operators until now. It has enabled increased downhole well intelligence, greater technology reliability, and faster drilling execution while cutting the cost of bringing wells on line. Today, almost every electronics-enabled measurement-while-drilling (MWD) system utilizes MEMS sensor. MEMS sensors can readily sense and quantify secondary parameters such as drilling dynamics and dysfunction.

Logging-while-Drilling Technology

In recent times, scientists and engineers have come up with Logging-while-Drilling (LWD) which is helping them overcome the challenges posed by directional drilling. This type of well logging incorporates the logging tools into the drill string, administering, interpreting and transmitting real-time formation measurements to the surface. By locating well logging tools near the drill bit on the end of the drilling apparatus, LWD empowers drillers to log wells that exceed 60 degrees, which makes pushing the tool through the well impossible. Moreover, by providing real-time information, LWD helps drillers and engineers take prompt and effective decisions with respect to the well’s future and the drilling direction. Widely known as ‘intelligent drilling’, LWD has certainly revolutionized the concept of well logging by enabling stronger, more successful onshore and offshore wells.

US-based oilfield services giant, Halliburton, this year, released a new logging-while-drilling technology called the ‘EarthStar Ultra-deep Resistivity Service’. It utilises azimuthal electromagnetic measurements.

The service can help achieve drillers the depth of investigation of more than 200ft. EarthStar Ultra can be used to map the geological structure around a wellbore; enhancing the operator’s knowledge of the reservoir for improvement of recovery potential.

Directional Drilling Services: What Lies Ahead

Spears & Associates released a report which portrays an optimistic picture for the global market of directional drilling services. The market saw 16% growth in 2017, owing to the amplified horizontal drilling activities in the US and other parts of the world. Innovations surrounding directional drilling sector are expected to make the processes smoother, more efficient, and accurate. As new technologies appear on the horizon, it’ll be interesting to observe the growth of directional drilling and the drilling process on a whole in the future.

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