A paradigm shift in drilling technology!
Posted: 27 November 2006
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Ability Drilling ASA, a Norwegian drilling contractor, have recently had a team presenting their new drilling technology for onshore drilling and workover rigs in UAE and Oman , in cooperation with their agent and sponsor in UAE.
Ability Drilling ASA has presently a manufacturing program for 42, state of the art 4 th generation drilling rigs and 42 workover rigs.
 The new drilling concept consists of a compact designed drilling package based on the rack and pinion principle. The constructor Sense EDM, aided by the experienced team from Ability Drilling ASA, have implemented all of the lessons learnt related to efficiency and health safety and environment (E-HSE) during drilling in the Norwegian North Sea over the last twenty years. This package has then been tailored to land drilling condition and it will be a more efficient drilling rig with high focus on zero faults philosophy, and therefore far fewer injuries than experienced in the traditional drilling industry.
All motors and other equipment used to move the rack and pinion system are encapsulated in a pressurized room with controlled atmosphere. This will make the equipment fully desert proof. Also the mast, which is not load bearing, is similarly encapsulated and pressurized. This technology has been developed in the North Sea to keep the salt water mist out of areas with sensitive equipment.
The team, headed by President and CEO Hans Petter Eikeland, was pleased to have very positive and constructive discussions with several companies, both operators and drilling contractors. He feel that teaming up with drilling contractors in the area, to learn more about transportation of their equipment under desert conditions will result in a better and more tailor made product for special desert conditions found here. They believe that this will enable Ability Drilling ASA and Sense EDM to make transport solution fit for purpose for these conditions.
Constructive comments received related to rig moves, have changed the way of thinking in the team says the CEO. This reduces the average rig move to one day, compared to earlier estimates of 3-4 days.
Together with dual operations and e-field technology this gives a significant improvement on an already efficient operation.
In all meetings it was appreciated the ability for the rig to switch from drilling to snubbing operation in seconds. Also the rigs ability to use under-balanced drilling without any modifications of the BOP or diverter system can as a matter of fact be used to drill and produce during the drilling in the reservoir section.
Ability Drilling ASA will invest in a training simulator in Abu Dhabi or Muscat , depending where the first deployment of the technology will be. With this feature it will be possible to use real drilling data from the area, to show the drilling personnel the potential challenges they will be faced with in real operations. Ability Drilling ASA will familiarize them with all the capabilities of the rig.
This will prepare the personnel in the area for a successful paradigm shift that will take place in the onshore drilling industry in the coming years. It is only a matter of time before visionary leaders in the industry will utilize such rigs in the area. Ability Drilling want to be in the front of this development, by investing in a training facility that will enable a smooth transition to this new technology.
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