Increasing ROP by 65% and saving 34 hours in offshore Guyana

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Guyana, South America, Offshore

Offshore Guyana, combining the AccuStrike™ short-makeup drill bit with the PowerDrive Orbit G2™ rotary steerable system enabled the BHA to complete high steering objectives in large hole sizes without needing to control drilling parameters. This approach increased total ROP by 65% in the highest-complexity trajectory in ExxonMobil's development campaign vs. conventional technology.

Trajectories in Guyana are classified based on their complexity, which is defined by the amount and type of directional work being performed. Historically, drilling parameter objectives had to be controlled, such as weight on bit and rpm, had to be controlled to maximize steerability output of the push the bit system, which is usually at its maximum limit. Controlling parameters is directly linked to controlling ROP, which increases the drilling time. To solve this challenge, a new way of drilling complex trajectories in Guyana was needed.

In collaboration with ExxonMobil, SLB provided a novel solution that combined the AccuStrike bit with the PowerDrive Orbit G2 RSS. As a result, ROP was increased by 65% in the highest-complexity trajectory in ExxonMobil’s development campaign while saving 34 hours of drilling time. The AccuStrike bit incorporated a proven AxeBlade™ ridged diamond element bit with a thermal-resistant diamond element bit to reduce L1 (bit to the RSS pads) distance, resulting in increased force at the steering unit. By reducing the L1 distance, higher DLS was achieved without needing to control drilling parameters. With the AccuStrike bit, the BHA was run in a negative-displacement section with optimum drilling parameters to maximize ROP. The combination of the AccuStrike bit with the PowerDrive Orbit G2 RSS set a new record for ROP in ExxonMobil's development campaign, achieving 237% increase in hard drilling interval (HDI) ROP versus conventional technology.

Combining the AccuStrike bit with the PowerDrive Orbit G2 RSS increases ROP by 65% in offshore Guyana.
Using the AccuStrike bit with the PowerDrive Orbit G2 system increased ROP by 65% while surpassing previous performance by an SLB bit by 30%.

“SLB was chosen for this job based on the proven history with shankless bits in US land and the Middle East and North Africa. The AccuStrike bit with the PowerDrive Orbit G2 system has defined the new way of drilling complex trajectories in Guyana. It has demonstrated that the technology can be used in larger hole sections, increasing drilling performance through increased steerability and ROP. We view the solution as the preferred combination for environments with similar directional complexity going forward in the region. The capability to increase the DLS can also lead to reductions in overall well lengths while achieving the well objectives.”

Nathaniel Carter, Wells Engineering Supervisor, Guyana Wells Team—Landing Team, ExxonMobil
Products Used