Case Study: a leading energy company improves geosteering and places a 428-m drain hole in zone with SLB MicroScope HD

Real-Time, High-Resolution Imaging Improves Geosteering to Place 428-m Drain Hole in Zone

SLB worked with a leading energy company in Italy that wanted to exploit attic oil reserves in a complex carbonate field. The reservoir was heavily fractured and faulted, creating a difficult geosteering challenge for drilling drain holes close to the caprock while staying away from the oil-water contact.

SLB used MicroScope HD high-definition imaging-while-drilling service together with PeriScope bed boundary mapping to guide real-time geosteering through the target zone. The team successfully placed 428 m of drain hole in zone at 90° inclination, improved attic oil recovery, increased distance from the oil-water contact, and collected detailed image data for postjob completion design and structural interpretation.