Case Study: Cimarex Energy achieves one-day faster high-DLS curve drilling with SLB StingBlade bits

Cimarex Energy Saves One Day While Drilling Curve Section on Consecutive Wells Permian Basin

Cimarex Energy worked with SLB to drill 8¾-in curve sections in the Avalon shale play of New Mexico, where highly interbedded formations and thick limestone made it difficult to achieve the desired 12°/100-ft build rate while maintaining high rate of penetration. Conventional PDC bits and roller-cone hybrid bits had struggled in the application, so Cimarex needed a better way to place the borehole precisely and maximize reservoir exposure.

SLB used its IDEAS integrated drillbit design platform to create a custom StingBlade Z613 bit with Stinger conical diamond elements, along with positive-displacement motors and SlimPulse MWD services. The solution completed the curve section in one run at 30.2 ft/h, 23% faster than the best offset well, and repeated the result on the next well at 30.1 ft/h. SLB also helped deliver an Avalon shale play record as the first fixed-cutter bit to finish a curve section in one run, with improved steerability and no lost-cone risk.

Cimarex Energy