Rotating equipment automation for directional drilling: Brain over brawn

Abstract

This paper describes the development of Slider automated directional drilling technology and addresses the benefits, automation strategy, the challenges encountered, and the solutions developed over the last 8 years. The paper will examine the following topics: • Challenges a directional driller faces controlling a drilling rig while directionally drilling a well • How automation and control can simplify the execution of repetitive actions and enable the directional drillers to perform their job at a higher level • Benefits of automated drilling • Using automation to protect rotating equipment from damage that may be caused by manual operation, thereby decreasing equipment downtime • Developing automation system architecture that will enable the adaptation of various types of pipe rotating equipment • Field examples and a description of the widely accepted Slider technology in today's directional drilling world