Halliburton achieves automated well placement in offshore Guyana

Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) and ExxonMobil completed what they describe as the industry's first fully automated geological well placement with complete rig automation in offshore Guyana. The project combined rig automation, automated subsurface interpretation and well placement, and real-time hydraulics.

The system used Halliburton's LOGIX orchestration and automated geosteering technology with EarthStar ultra-deep resistivity service and Sekal's DrillTronics to create an integrated closed-loop system. The technology steers wells within reservoir boundaries and optimizes drilling and tripping operations autonomously.

"Our teams create new performance levels when subsurface insight, automation, and drilling systems operate through one closed-loop automation system," said Jim Collins, vice president of Halliburton Sperry Drilling.

The reservoir section finished approximately 15% ahead of schedule, while tripping operations reduced time by about 33%. The system placed approximately 470 meters of the lateral section in the reservoir with automated geosteering and inclination corrections during the operation.

"This achievement demonstrates how collaboration and advanced automation can transform well construction efficiency and reliability," said Rod Henson, vice president of Wells at ExxonMobil. "It represents a significant step forward for Guyana's energy development and the industry's digital future."

The project involved collaboration between Halliburton, ExxonMobil, Sekal, Noble, and the Wells Alliance Guyana team. The system eliminates traditional separation between subsurface interpretation and drilling execution by integrating real-time optimization algorithms and geological inversion data with automated rig control.

Halliburton stated it is expanding closed-loop automation capabilities across multiple geographic regions, according to the press release announcement.

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