Case Study: IriSphere Service Company enhances coring operations with SLB's IriSphere real-time look-ahead service

IriSphere Service Enhances Coring Operations with Real-Time Look-Ahead Capability

SLB worked with IriSphere Service Company, an operator drilling an appraisal well offshore Western Australia, where reservoir position and thickness were uncertain in a complex stratigraphic setting. The customer needed to optimize coring operations without drilling a pilot hole and reduce risk despite seismic uncertainty, using SLB’s IriSphere look-ahead-while-drilling service.

SLB deployed the IriSphere service with a rotary BHA and supporting LWD/sonic tools to map the reservoir ahead of the bit and confirm where to core. The service detected the reservoir top 19 m ahead of the bit, verified reservoir thickness 7 m ahead of the bit, and confirmed about 25 m of reservoir thickness, allowing the operator to avoid a pilot hole and sidetrack while reducing overall drilling risk.