Halliburton and Sekal have announced the successful deployment of the world’s first automated on-bottom drilling system for Equinor on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) in the North Sea.
This groundbreaking achievement marks a significant step forward in drilling automation, promising enhanced efficiency, precision, and safety.
The innovative system integrates Halliburton‘s LOGIX automation and remote operations platform with Sekal’s Drilltronics solution and the rig’s automation control system.
This collaboration enables real-time optimisation of drilling parameters and improved well placement accuracy.
The integrated closed-loop control solution facilitates autonomous directional drilling, automated wellbore hydraulics, and dynamic surface drilling rig equipment control.
By automating rig controls, the solution allows for precise well placement at the touch of a button.
Halliburton’s LOGIX system enhances well placement and drilling safety by leveraging real-time advanced models of subsurface, wellbore fluid, and pressure systems.
These models, coupled with smart directional drilling tools and the rig automation control system, optimise drilling operations within safe limits.
The solution also incorporates LOGIX orchestration, auto steer, vibration mitigation, and hole cleaning optimisation, complemented by Sekal DrillTronics dynamic safeguards and automation functions.
“This project demonstrated autonomous on-bottom drilling where we orchestrated industry-leading technology of well placement, wellbore integrity, and rig process automation,” said Josh Sears, Senior Vice President of Drilling and Evaluation at Halliburton.
“The future for drilling automation is bright, and it is here.”
Sekal CEO Jarle Vaag echoed this sentiment, stating: “With the execution of integrated automation, Halliburton and Sekal proved the benefits and viability of autonomous on-bottom drilling.”
This achievement follows Halliburton’s recent launch, in collaboration with Coterra Energy, of the Octiv Auto Frac service — an automated hydraulic fracturing platform that automates the implementation of stage deliveries.
The Octiv Auto Frac service adds new capabilities to Halliburton’s Zeus intelligent fracturing platform, its electric pumping units, and the Sensori fracture monitoring service.
