Halliburton, Eni Pair Rig Automation With MPD on Indonesia Deepwater Well
Halliburton and Eni have linked closed-loop rig automation with managed pressure drilling for the first time in the Asia-Pacific region, Drilling Contractor reports. The deployment, on a deepwater exploration well offshore Indonesia, used Halliburton’s LOGIX automation and remote operations platform to tie together rig floor equipment, automated well positioning, downhole hydraulics and MPD controls into a single coordinated system. LOGIX orchestration managed both drilling execution and tripping in one workflow, rather than treating rig automation and pressure control as separate systems. Per the outlet, the integrated approach delivered consistent performance and reliable pressure control in a well with narrow operating margins, with LOGIX paired with MPD improving efficiency by more than 15% while maintaining well control.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Rig-floor automation vendors are moving toward closed-loop systems that fold MPD, tripping and well positioning into one orchestration layer. Drilling contractors and MPD service subs bidding Permian and Montney deepwater-analog or narrow-margin wells should expect operators to ask about integration capability with automated rig control systems, not just standalone MPD packages.
- Crews on rigs running combined automation/MPD platforms need training on orchestration software, not just legacy MPD choke and manifold operations. Subs supplying rig hands, MPD engineers or remote operations support should start budgeting for automation-specific certification now, ahead of any push into North American programs.
- The reported 15%+ efficiency gain gives operators a benchmark to cite when negotiating day rates or performance clauses on future contracts. Subcontractors pricing narrow-margin wells should anticipate operators referencing this kind of figure as a target when scoping automated drilling packages.
