PowerDrive X6 Rotary Steerable System for high-performa high-performance nce drilling and accurate wellbore placement
PowerDrive X6
The PowerDrive X6 RSS maintains control under the mo most st di diffi fficul cultt con condi ditio tions ns,, brin bringi ging ng th the e ben benefi efits ts of rot rotar aryy steerable systems to the harshest environments.
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he PowerDrive* rotary steerable systems (RSS) were developed to optimize directional drilling. These systems represent a step change in reliability and efficiency, facilitating the drillin drilling g of longer longer runs, optimi optimizing zing wellbo wellbore re placement, and reducing drilling time by drilling shoe to total total depth depth in one run run at maximum maximum ROP. The cost cost savings that result can be direct and substantial. Full rotation reduces drag, improves ROP, decreases the risk of sticking, and achieves superior hole cleaning. It also improves wellbore smoothness and decreases tortuosity, tortuos ity, which which reduces reduces drill drilling ing torque torque and and eliminate eliminatess unplanned wiper trips. Penetration rates are improved because there are no stationary components, which eliminates the friction that reduces efficiency and anchors the BHA in the hole. The flow of drilled cuttings past the BHA is enhanced because annular bottlenecks are not created in the wellbore.
Larger operating envelope The push-the-bit PowerDrive X6* RSS is the latest in the Schlumberger family of rotary steerable systems. With more robust and wider flow ranges, the PowerDrive X6 tool minimizes the effects of external drilling environment factors, improving performance and reliability. The robust, improved control of the PowerDrive X6 RSS is able to handle higher mud weights, wider flow ranges and drilling dynamics, aggressive muds, and small debris, making it suitable for harsh environments. Dual impeller control and a new impeller design provide a wider operating envelope, allowing the PowerDrive X6 tool to to drill drill at higher mud weights weights with improve improved d control. control. The higher operational envelope provided by the much wider flow range brings RSS benefits to wells where it was not previously possible.
Full directional control The PowerDrive X6 RSS is designed for full directional control while rotating the drillstring. An automatic inclination hold and efficient downlink function minimize the interacti interaction on with with the direc directional tional drill driller er needed needed to maintain directional control while drilling ahead. Less time needed needed for surface surface interac interaction tion means means more more time time spent drilling—up to 15% improvement in drilling performance has resulted from increasing productive time on on bottom bottom every every drilling drilling day. Near-bit measurements, available in real time, ensure accurate, efficient drilling and wellbore placement. Efficient downlink systems and automatic inclination hold provide a smooth tangent section and improve true vertical vertical depth accura accuracy cy in the horizont horizontal al section— section— critical for maximizing recoverable reserves and the well’s production potential.
New Features and Benefits Upgrades to the PowerDrive X6 control unit include ■
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new bearing design and materials that are more resistant to high temperatures temper atures and and aggressive aggressive mud environments smarter electronic boards that – enable power redundancy (dual impeller control)
An MWD-type triaxial sensor package close to the bit provides accurate azimuth and inclination directional information, which allows fast, responsive directional control in either automatic or manual operation mode. Once a target formation has been penetrated, the trajectory traject ory can can be “locked “locked in” using using the the inclinatio inclination n hold hold functionality. No further input is required from the direction directional al driller driller..
new torquer design that provides extra torque for stick and slip and jamming situations
– improve resistance to stick and slip – optimize real-time communication – increase the operating envelope ■
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new impeller design that increases increases availa available ble hydraulic torque, improving toolface toolfa ce control control more sophisticated inclination hold algorithms, faster downlinks.
PowerDrive X6
REDUCED COST, INCREASED CONFIDENCE The improved overall reliability of the robust PowerDrive X6 RSS increases confidence and reduces cost by ■
expanding the operating envelope
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minimizing the effect of drilling dynamics such as stick and slip
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providing better control during jamming
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improving jam resistance
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maintaining toolface control for more precise steering
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maintaining real-time communications at all times
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achieving longer runs
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reducing NPT.
Steering decisions are further aided by an optional real-time azimuthal gamma ray measurement and imaging of the wellbore to provide information on formation dip or fault boundaries. An azimuthal gamma ray sensor close to the bit enables drillers and geologists to identify bed boundaries quickly, allowing faster response to formation changes. This optimizes well placement and casing and coring point detection. It also minimizes penetration of formations to be cored and significantly reduces the chances of drilling through a potentially valuable core section or wasting time coring an uninteresting formation.
Improved reliability The more robust PowerDrive X6 system maintains control while drilling in rough environments, including stick and slip situations and drilling dynamics. A robust steering section and advanced coating materials that mitigate wear ensure reliable, consistent performance in a wide range of drilling environments. Optimized flow profiles reduce the risk of sticking, limit the effects of mud solids, and reduce erosion of internal and external downhole components. The system’s electronics, which are chassis-mounted for
Clients have experienced more than 25% improvement in reliability.
reliability and durability, can operate in downhole temperatures as high as 300 degF [150 degC]. All PowerDrive X6 external parts rotate, which reduces drag, improves ROP, decreases the risk of differential or mechanical sticking, and achieves superior hole cleaning and conditioning. Working in combination with the systems’ systems’ automat automatic ic trajector trajectoryy functionali functionality, ty, the the full rotatio rotation n increases increases wellbore smoothness and decreases tortuosity. This reduces drilling torque, improves drilling efficiency, and eliminates the need for unplanned wiper trips. The smooth smooth wellbor wellbore e also also makes makes it easier easier to run casing and simplifi simplifies es activities later in the life of the well, such as coiled tubing intervention and electrical submersible pump installation.
Proven results
More robust and wider flow ranges of the
Reliability has increased significantly in locations where PowerDrive X6 is being used. In field tests, the PowerDrive X6 RSS has drilled more than 1 million feet and 32,000 operating hours. Clients have experienced more than 25% 25% improveme improvement nt in relia reliability bility runnin running g the Power PowerDrive Drive X6 RSS, RSS, most most noticeably in smaller hole sizes.
PowerDrive X6 RSS minimize the effects of external drilling environment factors, improving performance and reliability.
PowerDrive X6
PRODUCTIVE DRILLING PUTS WELLS IN THE BEST PLACE IN PLACE IN LESS TIME WITH TIME WITH ■
robust jam resistance for reliable control—even in harsh formations
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near-bit inclination and formation evaluation measurements
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improved downlink and inclination-hold function for precise well placement
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real-time azimuthal gamma ray at bit for geostopping.
www.slb.com/PowerDriveX6
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