Yet again, the SPC/IADC Drilling Conference showcased an impressive amount of new tools and technology bound for field applications worldwide. Held in San Diego, Calif., March 6-8, the drilling sector was well represented by a number of companies working to increase drilling efficiency through the application of innovative new technology.

As the shale plays of North America and abroad become more important to overall reserves, technology is trending toward enhancing these applications.

Rotary steerable systems (RSSs) have been in play for some time and have proven to be a valuable asset when building curve to access the reservoir sooner. Meeting the challenges of drilling unconventional plays is time-consuming with conventional tools. Even with current RSS systems, multiple trips are sometimes required, which can increase cycle times for spud to first production.

A new RSS system was launched in San Diego that may allow operators to access shale reserves in one fast run. The AutoTrak Curve RSS from Baker Hughes was designed to kick off deeper into the well, exposing more of the reservoir.

For most unconventional plays, there is a high demand for greater buildup rates to maximize the lateral lengths in the reservoir. Operators typically rely on steerable motor assemblies to drill the curve and lateral. According to Baker Hughes, the Auto-Trak Curve system is capable of drilling curves at a buildup rate of up to 15?/30 m (100 ft) with continuous drillstring rotation. One of the key benefits of this system is that it can be used to drill the vertical, curve, and lateral section, typically in a single run. By eliminating slide intervals and improving rate of ROP, this system may help drillers to reduce cycle times even further. According to Mathias Schlecht, Baker Hughes vice president of Drilling Service, “In some shale plays, the AutoTrak Curve system has reduced drilling time up to four days and saved operators 60% of the rig time per well,” he said.

In addition, continuous string rotation reduces torque and drag for better wellbore quality. This also reduces cleanup time and eases the path for casing running and fracturing operations. Landing the reservoir faster increases the pace for the remaining processes such as completing, producing, and moving to the next well.

The AutoTrak system is fitted with on-bottom downlink commands for fast directional control. The commands can be sent manually using rig pump controls, a design feature included to limit the footprint on the rig site. The tool also can be controlled from the surface computer using the automated downlink system. The system allows steering targets to be changed without interruption, and the optional battery allows directional surveys while making connections.

Time will tell if this system is viable. This closed-loop drilling system is fully programmable and has currently undergone more than 10,000 hours of rigorous field testing in some of the toughest unconventional environments in North America, according to Baker Hughes. “We specifically engineered this system to meet the needs of those drilling in unconventional oil and gas plays,” said Scott Schmidt, president of Drilling & Evaluation. With fewer components than the typical RSS tool, the company hopes to drive a new performance and reliability standard.