Statoil and Baker Hughes test first rotary steerable liner while drilling system

Statoil has tested the world’s first rotary steerable liner while drilling system from its Brage platform in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. The new technology was jointly developed by Statoil and Baker Hughes Inc.

Ability to drill and log 3D well profiles
The concept of a rotary steerable system that gives operators the ability to accurately drill and log 3D well profiles with a liner attached directly to the drill string is entirely new. The system is designed to withstand high circulation rates and high torque loads while providing liner connect and disconnect capabilities. Following a second deployment in January at Statoil’s Statfjord field, the new technology will be commercialised.

No need to pull the drill string
In conventional drilling operations, it is necessary to pull the drill string before the casing or liner can be run into the borehole. Liner drilling systems eliminate the need to pull the drill string to run casing, saving time and drilling costs by minimising the risk of borehole collapse and reducing non-productive time. The addition of rotary steerable capabilities helps overcome the challenges of drilling in zones with lower pressure and unstable shale/coal layers, and in formations with varying flow and pressure regimes.

The companies qualified and verified this technology through a rigorous development process and conducted extensive onshore testing before it was run on Statoil’s Brage platform. A research group in Statoil's technology and new energy division (TNE) has worked in co-operation with Baker Hughes to develop the new drilling technology.

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/drilling-and-production/18012010/statoil_and_baker_hughes_test_first_rotary_steerable_liner_while_drilling_system/