Drilling Workflows
Drilling is one of the most expensive and high-risk phases of the upstream lifecycle. A single deepwater well can cost $50-150 million. Digital workflows help reduce non-productive time (NPT), improve wellbore quality, and enhance safety by providing real-time visibility into downhole conditions.
Digital Drilling Workflow
Well Planning & Design
Engineers use offset well data, 3D geological models, and drilling simulation software to design the optimal well trajectory, casing programme, and mud properties before a single foot is drilled.
Example: A well planner uses Landmark's COMPASS software to design a horizontal well trajectory that avoids a fault zone identified in the 3D seismic model.
Real-Time Drilling Monitoring
Sensors on the drill string (MWD/LWD tools) transmit downhole data - inclination, azimuth, gamma ray, pressure - to the surface in real time via mud pulse telemetry or wired drill pipe.
Example: A directional driller in a remote operations centre monitors real-time azimuth and inclination data to steer the bit through a thin reservoir target 3 km below the seabed.
Automated Anomaly Detection
ML models analyse real-time drilling parameters (WOB, RPM, torque, standpipe pressure, flow rate) to detect early signs of problems like stuck pipe, kicks, or lost circulation before they escalate.
Example: An anomaly detection model flags a sudden increase in torque and decrease in ROP, alerting the driller to a potential stuck pipe situation 15 minutes before it becomes critical.
Remote Expert Support
Real-time data is streamed to onshore drilling operations centres where specialists - geologists, mud engineers, drilling engineers - collaborate with the rig crew to make decisions without flying offshore.
Example: A geologist in an onshore centre views real-time LWD gamma ray and resistivity logs to confirm the well has entered the target reservoir zone, advising the rig team to stop drilling.
Key Drilling Metrics Tracked Digitally
ROP
Rate of Penetration (ft/hr)
NPT
Non-Productive Time (hrs)
WOB
Weight on Bit (klbs)
ECD
Equiv. Circulating Density
Use Case: Equinor's Remote Drilling Operations
Equinor operates integrated drilling operations centres in Bergen and Stavanger that monitor wells being drilled across the Norwegian Continental Shelf in real time. Onshore specialists review MWD/LWD data, drilling parameters, and geological prognoses alongside the rig teams. This collaborative model has reduced drilling NPT by over 20% and enabled faster, more informed decisions about well placement and casing points.