Collaboration aims to speed up drilling automation adoption

May 10, 2021
Schlumberger and NOV are combining digital drilling automation solutions for wellbore construction.

Offshore staff

LONDON – Schlumberger and NOV have agreed to collaborate to accelerate automated drilling solutions adoption by oil and gas operators and drilling contractors.

The agreement will enable customers to combine Schlumberger’s surface and downhole drilling automation solutions with NOV’s rig automation platform to deliver superior well construction performance, the companies claimed. This integrated offering enables the automation of manual workflows, improving safety, decision making, consistency, and efficiency in drilling.

The combined solution leverages advanced AI from the Schlumberger DrillOps on-target well delivery solution, while NOV’s NOVOS process-automation platform controls all the company’s rig equipment within the operational envelope. The two technologies will work together to manage compliance to procedure and to reach best-in-class operational performance, the companies claimed.

The family of DrillOps solutions includes open and modular technologies and advanced machine learning applications to execute the digital drilling plan consistently and to automate drilling tasks, attaining higher levels of efficiency.

NOVOS is an open platform, automating repetitive drilling activities, benefiting contractors by allowing them to focus on consistent process execution and safety, and benefiting operators by optimizing drilling programs.

Schlumberger CEO Olivier Le Peuch said: “Leveraging downhole and surface automation applications, we can deliver enhancements in operations safety and efficiency, and deliver top-quartile wells for our customers consistently.

“This partnership will help accelerate customers’ adoption of drilling automation technologies, enabling superior well construction performance.”

Clay Williams, chairman, president and CEO of NOV, added: “Through this collaboration, NOV demonstrates its commitment to deliver an open digital automation platform that enables drilling contractors to achieve higher consistency, safety, and efficiency with improved wellbore quality. 

“We continue to invest in digital solutions that provide value for our customers. Drilling automation allows rig crews to focus on the big picture to drive performance and less on manual, repetitive tasks.”

05/10/2021