SLB has announced a strategic collaboration with Cactus Drilling, the largest privately held US land drilling contractor, to accelerate the adoption of automated and autonomous drilling technologies, according to a press release of 23 June. Its main areas of operation include Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and New Mexico.
As part of the agreement, Cactus, headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, will expand its use of SLB’s Precise automated drilling control systems by incorporating DrillSync, SLB’s automated controls platform and software suite. The collaboration also includes the deployment of DrillOps, SLB’s AI-powered drilling automation and advisory solution, and Neuro, which supports self-learning, autonomous directional drilling, and geosteering capabilities.
"This collaboration signifies a new chapter in the adoption of SLB's digital drilling solutions, offering a pathway for scaling intelligent solutions to improve drilling performance and safety," said Cecilia Prieto, president, well construction, SLB. "This agreement with Cactus is an important step in shaping the future of well construction and aligning performance goals between SLB, drilling contractors, and operators."
"The expanded partnership with SLB allows us to offer our customers the benefits of leading-edge automation and control technology and leaves us well-positioned to deliver even greater value by strengthening the safety, precision, and consistency of our drilling operations," said Josh Simons, president and CEO of Cactus Drilling.
Prior to their newly announced agreement, the companies worked together on implementing SLB’s Precise automated drilling system across Cactus rigs in the Delaware Basin in west Texas.
An SLB case study published in 2021described the results of integration of the intelligent power management software to manage start and stop cycles based on load profiles to turn engines more efficiently at higher loads, lowering engine run hours by 20% and reducing fuel consumption and associated emissions by up to 12%.
