[Editor's note: This article and video originally appeared in the October issue of E&P Plus. Subscribe to the digital publication here.]
Remote and automated drilling capabilities are nothing new for the oil and gas industry. Its roots can be traced back more than 20 years, but adoption has accelerated with the evolution of digital and machine learning technologies throughout the past decade.
Now, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote operations are playing an increasingly important role in the industry. In this exclusive video interview with E&P Plus, Paul Madero, vice president of drilling services with Baker Hughes, discusses why these technologies are so important in the oil and gas industry today.
He explains that many wells that have been drilled and completed this year very likely would not have been drilled at all without automated capabilities.
This year, Baker Hughes reported a significant increase in its drilling operations, with more than 70% of them utilizing remote capabilities, up from 50% in 2019. Those operations include achieving new execution milestones such as remotely drilling two miles in a 24-hour period.
Recently, Baker Hughes partnered with Equinor to implement the service company’s advanced integrated operations model on another six rigs, reducing field service personnel on the rigs by 50%.
“What our customers have seen is that through this process these capabilities really do drive better outcomes,” Madero said. “So we’re setting records on wells, whether it be from an ROP standpoint or from a wellbore placement standpoint.”
While COVID-19 might have accelerated the adoption of remote and autonomous drilling operations, they are likely here to stay.
“You drill faster wells, and you place them better,” Madero said. “So ultimately you’re going to end up with the best production profile.”
Recommended Reading
Freeport Back at Full Strength Three Years After Fire, Tank Damage
2025-05-21 - Freeport LNG has been operating on two out of three LNG storage tanks for nearly three years, but had managed to hit record production in the past 12 months, most recently in April.
Freeport LNG Intake Drops, Hitting NatGas Prices
2025-05-28 - Natural gas prices have taken a 6% hit as the news of slowed gas flows at Freeport LNG spreads.
Freeport LNG Export Plant in Texas On Track to Exit Outage, LSEG Data Shows
2025-05-07 - In a report to Texas environmental regulators late on May 6, Freeport said the three liquefaction trains at the export plant shut that morning due to an incoming power feed interruption.
Freeport LNG Export Plant in Texas on Track to Return to Full Power, LSEG Data Shows
2025-05-29 - U.S. LNG company Freeport LNG's export plant in Texas was on track to take in more natural gas on May 29 after a small reduction on May 28, a sign the plant was heading back to full power.
Texas’ RRC Approves Salt Dome NatGas Storage Project Near Houston
2025-06-18 - The Gulf Coast Midstream Partners’ FRESH facility would add about 26 Bcf of storage to southeast Texas in its first phase. The project is pending a final investment decision.
Comments
Add new comment
This conversation is moderated according to Hart Energy community rules. Please read the rules before joining the discussion. If you’re experiencing any technical problems, please contact our customer care team.