Case Study: Leading India Operating Company saves 3 days and enlarges hole in one run with SLB dual expandable reamers

BHA with Dual Expandable Reamers Enlarges Hole Section in One Run, Saves 3 Days

SLB worked with a leading India operating company drilling offshore India to enlarge a 12¼-in pilot hole to 17½ in so a 16-in liner could be run at the target depth. The challenge was to manage equivalent circulating density in a soft claystone and abrasive sandstone formation with unconfined compressive strength of 1,000 to 5,000 psi.

SLB used the IDEAS integrated design platform and i-DRILL engineered drilling system design to create a stable BHA with dual Rhino XS hydraulically expandable reamers, allowing the well section to be enlarged in one run. The operation underreamed 669 m from 12¼ in to 17½ in, eliminated rathole, saved 3 days of rig time, and maintained an on-bottom rate of penetration of 19 m/h.