SLB has launched Neuro™ autonomous geosteering, an AI-driven solution designed to improve the efficiency and productivity of drilling operations while reducing their carbon footprint.

This technology uses artificial intelligence to interpret real-time subsurface data and autonomously guide the drill bit through the most productive layer of the reservoir which eliminates the need for manual data interpretation and communication, streamlining the drilling process.

The new technology builds on the company’s existing Neuro autonomous directional drilling technology. It incorporates high-fidelity downhole measurements to ensure certainty of well placement in the best part of the reservoir, said SLB on Monday.

“Neuro autonomous geosteering is a remarkable industry-first achievement that is for drillers what the autonomous vehicle is for drivers,” said Jesus Lamas, president of Well Construction at SLB.

“Using advanced cloud and edge AI capabilities, the system automatically selects the best route for drilling the well based on high-fidelity downhole measurements, bringing the well trajectory in line with the real-world conditions of the reservoir. By drilling more consistent and higher-producing wells, our customers can optimize their field development plan while reducing operational emissions from drilling over the lifetime of the asset,” Lamas added.

SLB has recently deployed Neuro autonomous geosteering in Ecuador to drill a 2,392-foot lateral section of an onshore well for Shaya Ecuador S.A.

During this operation, SLB’s autonomous system completed 25 autonomous geosteering trajectory changes, with each interpretation and decision cycle taking only seconds. By remaining in the most productive layer of the reservoir, the well has become one of the best producers in the country as SLB noted.