New Automated Drilling Rig Enables Hands-off Operation Approach

摘要

Technological innovation in the oil and gas industry has recently taken a new automated approach. In this article the technological foundation, which led to the development of one of the most advanced automated land drilling rigs in the international market, is described. As the sector faces new operational challenges due to depleting reserves, mature fields and an increasingly stringent regulatory regime, technology has an important role to play in assisting companies to increase their efficiency in the finding, lifting, separating and distributing of oil and gas. Until recently, automation in the drilling industry has generally referred to the auto-drilling method. Drilling rigs are designed to perform specific but repetitive tasks - drilling, tripping, casing, well control and cementing - with a crew overseeing each element and playing a hands-on role in the process. The level of HSE risk on a rig floor is significant. A higher level of automation removes some of the direct process-human interaction with heavy loads therefore protecting employees from the risk of injury.