As drilling operations evolve toward greater digitalization, the demand for real-time data, automation, and integrated workflows has increased significantly. This paper presents the large-scale deployment and operational integration of the RheoProfiler 200, an advanced, automated rheometer, in the Ghawar gas field, one of the world’s most prolific and technically complex hydrocarbon developments. The device, in combination with a drilling-fluids advisor and a mature real-time operations center (RTOC) framework, was implemented to overcome long-standing challenges in drilling-fluid monitoring, including delayed data, human error, limited data accessibility, and reactive decision-making.
RheoProfiler
The device is an advanced, fully automated rheometer specifically engineered for testing the density and rheological properties of drilling fluids, including water-based, oil-based, and synthetic mud systems. Weighing approximately 34 kg, the unit is designed for indoor operation and is ideally suited for installation in fluids-engineer cabins at the rig site (Fig.
