It’s not been that long ago that the initials WD (while-drilling) first found their way into common usage in the oil and gas industry. It had long been hoped that some of the measurements taken downhole after a well was drilled could instead be taken while the well was being drilled, saving time and money and providing subsurface information more quickly . In recent years while-drilling and other formation evaluation services have consistently outperformed other services in customer satisfaction, according to EnergyPoint Research. EnergyPoint provides independent research regarding the oil and gas industry’s satisfaction with the products and services it purchases and uses. In a recent report, the company indicated that formation and well evaluation (FWE) services are not ranking as well as they have in the past. EnergyPoint breaks its FWE coverage into four sectors: wireline logging, logging-while drilling (LWD), core and fluid analysis, and well testing. “FWE’s forerunner status does appear to be lessening somewhat,” the report states. It lists core fluids analysis services as receiving the highest customer satisfaction ratings, while LWD services are getting the worst rap, “in part due to frustration with inexperienced crews and faulty equipment.” Well testing and wireline logging fared better than LWD, but “these segments also seem to be undergoing ratings erosion as of late.” In a chart outlining service offerings from several of the major companies in this space, only one company received a “very high” rating (for core and fluid analysis), and very few were indicating an upward customer satisfaction trend. This couldn’t come at a worse time. In today’s low-priced environment, customer service is one of the few things a company can offer to differentiate itself from its competitors. Companies would be well-advised to do their own customer surveys and strive for improvement. The report is based on more than 1,000 evaluations in the FWE category. Respondents receive survey results from EnergyPoint in return for participating. To view past reports, visit www.energypointresearch.com.