Case Study: Western Siberia Operating Company boosts lateral drilling ROP with SLB’s custom drill bit optimization

BHA Optimization with Custom Drill Bit Increases Average ROP from 15 to 34 m/h in Lateral Sections

SLB worked with Western Siberia Operating Company to improve drilling performance in slim horizontal lateral sections. The customer was drilling with a PowerDrive X6 rotary steerable system and an existing third-party bit, but average rate of penetration had stalled at 15 m/h and rig limitations reduced the ability to increase performance through operating parameters.

SLB optimized the bottomhole assembly by replacing the previous bit with a custom-designed MDi416 fixed cutter PDC drill bit created using the IDEAS integrated drillbit design platform. By simulating downhole conditions before drilling, SLB helped raise average ROP to 34 m/h, saving approximately one day of drilling time in the field.