Halliburton releases new slimhole size for XBAT LWD service

Sperry Drilling, a Halliburton business line, introduced a new 4 ³/₄ in. slimhole size to its XBAT^sm LWD service to complete its portfolio that includes 6 ³/₄, 8 and 9 ¹/₂ in. tools. The addition of this new size allows the XBAT tool to service wellbore holes ranging from 5 ³/₄ to 36 in.

The XBAT LWD service, the third generation of Sperry’s sonic tools, delivers accurate acoustic measurements in a wide range of formations via sensors and electronics that are much less sensitive to drilling noise and have a wider frequency response. The result is a greater signal-to-noise ratio that enables better measurements even in noisy drilling environments and poor hole conditions. The XBAT tool combines multi-array azimuthal sonic velocity measurements with multi-axis ultrasonic stand-off measurements to improve operators’ abilities in determining rock properties.

With more than 500 successful runs and 900 000 ft drilled, the XBAT LWD service has delivered increased reliability through accurate measurements across various formations around the world. It has also been tested extensively in challenging environments such as the North Sea, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico.

XBAT service reduces cost and mitigates risk through data analysis that can:

Optimise the drilling process by assisting in the optimal mud window choice and provide borehole stability analysis.

Deliver valuable and cost-effective wellbore placement data including time-to-depth seismic correlation while drilling and real time synthetic seismograms.

Provide gas detection, rock mechanics, complex lithology, porosity determination with other LWD tools and porosity measurement without the need for nuclear sources.

Recently in West Africa, the XBAT tool performed real-time geomechanical model calibration in a 12 ¹/₄ in. hole in a deepwater well, providing real-time shear and compressional data to optimize mud weight and maintain formation stability for casing running. The operator successfully drilled to total depth and all casings were installed smoothly. The lower completion was also installed and completion screens were deployed seamlessly. By utilizing XBAT LWD service, the operator effectively calibrated the geomechanical model in order to employ the correct mud weight and run the casing operation without conditioning or clean-out trips, saving deepwater drilling days and reducing uncertainty.

Adapted from a press release by David Bizley

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/drilling-and-production/04022015/halliburton-releases-new-slimhole-size-for-xbat-lwd-service/