In the current climate of lower oil prices, getting to total depth cheaper and faster is paramount. Companies are pushing the limits utilizing the latest drilling tools that drill faster; provide instantaneous corrections when steering; have more accurate logging; and overcome what was previously considered “un-drillable” wells.

Odfjell Well Services’ DrillRdillo™ Multi-Application Scraper was recently mobilized to Cameroon. Through the use of a combined drilling and wellbore cleanout BHA, the IOC was able to drill out a bridge plug, cement plugs and complete a wellbore clean-up in one trip.

The DrillRdillo from OWS has saved trips for clients from Myanmar to Angola; from The Middle-East to The North Sea. Here we present you with a quick overview of some stats and use cases from clients utilising the tool for a variety of applications.

I often get requests for different tools from the end users, but they are almost never aware of the tool condition on delivery. A little attention to such an important detail could prevent trouble later. And it could be decisive for choosing the right service supplier. The lowest price and cost is always attractive, but do you know the condition of the tool you are about to run in the hole?

In a previous blog we have described the significant potential efficiency gain that lies in a fully automated drilling process, by use of intelligent robots at the drill floor. Before we go into details about how such a system could look, and how we can get there, let’s take a look at where we are on automation on our modern 6th generation rigs today.

A revolution in Wellbore Clean Up as we know it is at hand. OWS is launching a tool designed to withstand the rigors of drilling with the finesse of wellbore cleaning. The technology allows the well to be drilled, and then the casing to be scraped on the same run, eliminating the need for a separate dedicated trip. The new DrillRdillo™ Drilling Scraper can reduce completion time by hours or even days. OWS’ Product Line Manager for Wellbore Clean-Up, Simon Leiper, tells you how it works.

The introduction of the FMS (Flush Mounted Spider) has made a step change in Tubular Running Operations. The increased safety on the rig floor is obvious when compared to the traditional methods of running casing & tubing. And when it comes to heavy-weight strings, the FMS is your best option.

There is always a discussion about where to put the most flow, through the bit or through the hole opener. There are as many points of views on this topic as there are specialist working with top hole drilling.

The question is - when 20% of the opening effect comes from the bit and 80% comes from the hole opener, shouldn't that be reflected in the flow distribution?

It is not science fiction and it is not years ahead of us: The robots are here, they are for real, they are highly intelligent professional drill crew and they are likely to be operating in the North Sea by the end of the year.

A question we're sometimes asked is: Why is drill pipe classified as “Premium” once it has been in the hole, and why is it all of a sudden 20% weaker than new? Well, it’s a bit like buying a new car. Once you have driven it out of the dealers shop, it’s classified as used. In today’s blog post, I’ll focus on the drill pipe body itself and not the connections.