Systems automation is generating considerable interest within the drilling community. Results of extended field operations with these systems were published this year. An offshore deployment in the North Sea shows savings of approximately 10%, with exceptional repeatability and optimization of activities such as breaking gels. An onshore deployment in a factory-drilling environment in the Bakken, using wired pipe, shows good results in delivering top-quartile performance while indicating room for improvement in systems automation.
As systems automation becomes more widespread in drilling, simulators are required to plan, train rig crews, and monitor real-time operations.
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