Improve drilling performance through soft shale formation

Repsol Oil and Gas USA, LLC sought to improve ROP in the 8 1/2-in lateral section of wells in the Marcellus Shale. The section is between 7,000 ft and 9,000 ft with a lithology comprising primarily of shale with unconfined compressive strength of 3,000 to 5,000 psi. The formation is soft with very low abrasion and impact properties. Repsol wanted to drill the section in a single run with faster ROP than their baseline bit without lowering durability.

Combine bit incorporating unique-geometry cutting element with RSS

To achieve Repsol’s objective, Schlumberger recommended fitting the BHA with a HyperBlade bit and a PowerDrive Orbit RSS. The distinctive shape of the Hyper hyperbolic diamond cutting elements significantly improves cutting efficiency in plastic formations and delivers higher instantaneous ROP. It also has a thicker diamond table for increased durability. Using the IDEAS integrated dynamic design and analysis platform, a new 5-blade HyperBlade bit was designed specifically for this application.

The PowerDrive Orbit RSS is highly versatile, tough, and reliable in any operational environment. In addition to enhanced durability, the PowerDrive Orbit RSS provides enhanced trajectory control for smoother boreholes.