Case Study: BP doubles footage and boosts ROP in Woodford Shale with SLB AxeBlade bit

AxeBlade Ridged Diamond Element Bit Doubles Footage, Increases ROP 41% in Woodford Shale

BP needed to improve drilling efficiency in the Woodford Shale while maintaining consistent build rates, reducing drilling time, and maximizing pay zone exposure across a multiwell pad campaign. To drill through challenging intercalated sandstone, limestone, and shale, BP worked with SLB to find a bit solution that could handle both the curve and lateral sections with the same BHA.

SLB recommended an 8¾-in AxeBlade ridged diamond element bit, using offset data and design tools to optimize the cutting structure for durability, direction control, and ROP. BP drilled the full 618-ft curve and 4,916 ft of lateral in one run, set a field record of 82 ft/h, improved ROP by 41% versus the best offset, doubled footage versus previous third-party bit runs, and saved up to 20 hours of rig time by eliminating a BHA trip.

BP