SLB used the PowerDrive Archer™ high build rate rotary steerable system (RSS) to drill a 6 in hole section, with a 7°/30 m curve and lateral section to TD, through unconsolidated sands while minimizing the number of trips in West Africa.

Slimhole well needed in unconsolidated sand formation

Attempting to drill 6 in horizontals through an unconsolidated formation with a conventional RSS, an operator encountered a number of challenges in West Africa. The RSS system in use produced an insufficient build rate, resulting in the need to use a motor BHA to land the well. The use of a motor entailed an additional trip to replace the motor BHA with a rotary steerable BHA to drill the lateral section. This method meant another trip was often required with a positive displacement motor (PDM) to correct trajectory in the lateral because of the conventional RSS's inability to hold inclination in the loose formation.

Drilling these sections generally required four trips and 15 days. The operator wanted a reliable RSS assembly with precise directional control that could drill the curve to land the lateral at TD while reducing trips and minimizing hole washouts.

Hybrid rotary steerable BHA designed for the project

SLB integrated BHA with a 4¾ in PowerDrive Archer high build rate rotary steerable system (RSS) and 6 in SHARC™ high-abrasion-resistance PDC drill bit by SLB to ensure desired curve and reliable control. We landed the well horizontally by delivering 7°/30 m curve, avoided three trips, compared with previous efforts, and saved 9 days of drilling time, approximately USD 1.4 million.

SLB proposed an integrated drilling system beginning with the PowerDrive Archer RSS as the drive system. This hybrid RSS has push- and point-the-bit technology and a high turning radius that could ensure the delivery of a moderate dogleg in the unconsolidated formation.

The adnVISION™ azimuthal neutron density service was included to provide geological information and formation dip with real-time LWD to keep the lateral wellbore's trajectory in the reservoir target. The IDEAS™ integrated drillbit design platform specially designed a 6 in SHARC PDC drill bit for use with the PowerDrive Archer RSS. SHARC bits are designed to increase directional performance and BHA stability. i-DRILL™ integrated dynamic system analysis service was used to map the BHA's behavior in expected shale and sand formations to mitigate potential vibration. In addition, modeling based on finite element analysis was used to designate the proper drilling parameters to minimize shock and maximize ROP.

Drilling time reduced by 9 days, saving USD 1.4 million

The 4¾ in PowerDrive Archer RSS successfully drilled out the shoe, landed the well by drilling the 100 m curve at 7*/30 m, and drilled through the lateral to TD in one trip. For this well, compared with previous wells drilled using motors for the curve and rotary steerables for the lateral, the number of trips was reduced by three and drilling time reduced by 9 days, saving the operator approximately USD 1.4 million.