In a challenging Gulf of Mexico deepwater field, characterized by tough sandstone and shale layers prone to causing high levels of shock and vibrations during reaming operations, the operator used the Rhino™ hydraulic underreamer from SLB to enlarge the hole and benefit from maximized lateral and torsional stability.

Faced with the complexities of a demanding deepwater formation, the operator aimed to increase reamer stability to mitigate shock and vibrations during reaming and achieve smooth drilling dynamics while keeping the cutter block sharp along the interval.

The Rhino hydraulic underreamer demonstrated smoother drilling dynamics and a 45% increase in ROP through a very challenging formation compared with the offset well. Stability was achieved through the combination of a profile shape that reduced imbalanced forces and lateral displacement control (LDC) elements placed behind the cutters. Reliability was maximized using a backup full-gauge profile. BHA dynamics experienced minimal change during the transitions. A new, customizable sleeve stabilizer directly below the dual profile cutter blocks minimized eccentric movement and dampened shock peaks. To increase wear resistance, the cutter block was fitted with the latest thermocutter technology.

The Rhino hydraulic underreamer is part of the Rhino integrated borehole enlargement system. Its single-piece body enables a higher tensile- and torque-load capacity and can be configured for a wide range of borehole sizes. The reamer features a symmetrical, concentric arrangement of PDC cutter blocks that are selected for extreme durability against the specific lithological application.