Case Study: Kuwait Oil Company exceeds field ROP and saves USD 32,600 with SLB's AxeBlade bit

AxeBlade Bit Helps Kuwait Oil Company Exceed Field ROP While Saving USD 32,600

SLB worked with Kuwait Oil Company to address severe stick/slip while drilling hard, heterogeneous limestone and shale formations in northern Kuwait, where limiting weight on bit had previously reduced rate of penetration. The project required building angle from vertical to 30° while maintaining control in challenging carbonates with very high compressive strength.

SLB recommended and deployed the AxeBlade ridged diamond element bit to reduce torque fluctuation, mitigate stick/slip, and allow higher weight on bit. The result was a 63% improvement over the field-best ROP and an 84% improvement over the field-average ROP, reaching total depth in a single run and saving one drilling day and USD 32,600 in well costs.

Kuwait Oil Company