Enhanced RSS Technology Pushes Drilling Envelope

Abstract

Technology Update Increasing technical demands are pushing the envelope of rotary steerable system (RSS) drilling technology. The growing challenges of directional drilling in hard formations, borehole stability issues, difficult hole trajectories, and harsh downhole environments all are placing increasing demands on drilling and adding costs and risks to operations. RSS advancements have played a key role in pushing drilling into new frontiers such as deepwater and unconventional basins. As wells have become more complex and difficult, the industry seeks continuing advancements to enable the economic development of previously inaccessible resources in a variety of environments. The Schlumberger PowerDrive Orbit enhanced RSS (Fig. 1) expands the ability to complete multiple functions in one run, tolerating higher revolutions per minute while maintaining good trajectory control, minimizing tortuosity, and accommodating challenging hydraulic designs and muds formulated for more aggressive drilling. Addressing Challenges The technology was engineered to address the most challenging drilling conditions and provide the reliability and efficiency needed to plan one run per section from shoe to total depth. The tool reduces the number of trips in and out of the hole, decreases the risk of differential and mechanical sticking, and improves hole cleaning and conditioning capabilities. The enhanced RSS system includes a newly designed pad actuator, thus increasing reliability and enhancing trajectory control by use of self-steering automation on any type of rig worldwide. The system also offers an optional, or on-demand, stronger pad design to provide greater durability in highly abrasive formations. In wells that typically would require two or three runs to drill one section, the new design enables operators to drill a section in a single run with improved performance. It also expands the revolution rate limits, tolerating up to 350 RPM, from the current limit of 220 RPM, while maintaining directional control and consistent steerability. Enhancing Existing Technology The new RSS system was designed to boost the effectiveness of existing technology. With an improved pad force, push-the-bit system for consistent dogleg severity at higher revolutions per minute, the new technology pushes the operating envelope of PowerDrive pushthe- bit systems. When combined with the PowerDrive vorteX powered RSS, it offers a wider tolerance for higher revolutions per minute and torque downhole.