Make Every Driller the Best Driller

NOVOS™ is a simple-to-install process-automation platform that helps the driller to step back from the repetitive complexities of machine and process control. The system serves as a link between the two activities to ease the burden on the driller, resulting in safer and more efficient well construction. NOVOS, which can be added to an existing land rig in as little as 12 hours, provides a common platform for the control, monitoring, scheduling, and optimization of drilling operations. Structuring data and defining activities through process automation enables engineers to develop lessons learned and apply best practices across regions and rig fleets.

Case studies:

• NOVOS and wired drill pipe
• NOVOS reduces connection times for major operator on Alaskan North Slope

NOVOS comes with applications that allow the rig to drill consistently, safely, and more effectively, and it also has the capability to incorporate customized applications for specific drilling requirements. A unique software development kit allows developers to create and deploy their own applications that use sensor data to control rig machines. Third parties are provided with safe access to a wide variety of functions within the system and are encouraged to develop applications that address their unique challenges. Those applications can then be layered, prioritized, and partitioned to provide simple flexibility of control and monitoring in ways previously unachievable.

NOVOS was recently deployed to the North Slope drilling area for Parker Drilling and BP. Using the system enabled Parker Drilling to achieve consistent bottom-to-bottom time savings and an overall safer drilling process. Doug McCrae, BP Technical Deployment Specialist, said, “BP has got an ambition to lead the industry in automation. It’s about making it a more safe environment and more cost effective in that element as well. If we can get consistent and safe, that’s nirvana for us. We keep people away from harm’s way. That’s one of our biggest drivers.” Another benefit was increased consistency in executing discrete aspects of the drilling processes, which reduced unpredictability for the rig crew and driller. This increased awareness, safety, and delivery of the overall drilling operation, further highlighting the ability of the system to maximize value for both the contractor and operator.

"We had one specifically challenging well here that called for incredibly tight control to help protect the formations, and NOVOS delivered that to a degree that I’ve never seen before in my career,” McCrae noted. “I am a big believer in standardization… This is the next big step-change technology, in my humble opinion."

While the oilfield has historically been slow to accept change, it is now more critical than ever that digital technology be embraced as the future of the industry. We’re excited to prove that NOVOS is the first step in driving this paradigm shift.