Halliburton and Sekal AS deployed the world’s first automated on-bottom drilling system with the integration of Halliburton’s LOGIX™ automation and remote operations, Sekal’s Drilltronics®, and the rig automation control system.
The team delivered a well for Equinor on the Norwegian Continental Shelf with an integrated closed-loop control solution. This solution orchestrates autonomous directional drilling with automated wellbore hydraulics and dynamic surface drilling rig equipment control.
The team is now able to optimize drilling parameters in real time and deliver precise well placement with the single push of a button through integrated automated rig controls.
The system optimizes well placement and drilling within safe limits through real-time advanced models of subsurface, wellbore fluid, and pressure systems. It achieves this by coupling the models with smart directional drilling tools and the rig automation control system.
“This project demonstrated autonomous on-bottom drilling where we orchestrated industry leading technology of well placement, wellbore integrity, and rig process automation. The future for drilling automation is bright, and it is here,” said Josh Sears, senior vice president, Drilling and Evaluation, Halliburton.
The solution includes LOGIX orchestration, auto steer, vibration mitigation, and hole cleaning optimization with Sekal DrillTronics dynamic safeguards, and automation functions.
“With the execution of integrated automation, Halliburton and Sekal proved the benefits and viability of autonomous on-bottom drilling,” said Jarle Vaag, chief executive officer, Sekal.
(worldoil.com, February 26, 2025)
