Case Study: PetroChina achieves 18 rig days saved in Tarim Basin drilling with SLB PowerDrive Archer RSS and Mi519 PDC bit

High Build Rate RSS Saves 18 Rig Days for PetroChina in Tarim Basin China

PetroChina Company Ltd. needed to drill 8½-in ultradeep horizontal wells in the Tarim basin’s Hade field, where the reservoir was tight, laminated, hard, abrasive, and full of hard stringers. Conventional BHA performance was limited by severe shock and vibration, difficult steering, and rig/downhole equipment constraints, which drove multiple runs per section and low average ROP. SLB was brought in to help improve drilling efficiency and reduce nonproductive time.

SLB recommended an engineered drilling system combining the PowerDrive Archer high build rate rotary steerable system (RSS) with a Smith Bits 8½-in Mi519 PDC bit, selected using the IDEAS drillbit design platform, along with supporting MWD services. The three wells averaged 4.65 m/h, a 75% improvement over offset well ROP, and average run length increased from 236 m to 503 m, up 113%. The campaign saved 18 rig days and set field records including 5.83 m/h ROP, a 620-m single run, and 5,048-m TVD.

PetroChina Company Ltd.