Global adoption underscores the value of earlier, high-resolution subsurface insights

In its first year of commercial deployment, the SLB Retina™ at-bit imaging system has been used in more than 50 wells across 18 locations worldwide, demonstrating growing demand for reliable access to higher-resolution subsurface information that can influence critical drilling and development decisions.

The Retina system delivers formation images at approximately 2 millimeters of resolution. Because images are acquired while drilling directly at the bit, before drilling alters the formation, they provide a more representative view of subsurface conditions when operational and development decisions are being made. These insights can support well planning and placement, drilling execution, completion design and field development planning.

Global deployment validates performance

Over its first year in the field, the Retina system has demonstrated high-resolution imaging performance across a broad range of geological settings and drilling environments.

In a North American unconventional well, the system imaged more than 5,300 feet of horizontal section and identified natural fractures associated with mud-loss zones, along with strata-bound fractures, thin laminations and possible deformation. In Latin America, it recorded more than 1,275 feet of data during 70 hours of on-bottom drilling, revealing subtle geological variations that aligned with observations from offset wells and regional outcrop data.

Additional deployments enabled operators to distinguish thin beds and sand packages later validated by wireline imaging, characterize complex carbonate formations and identify features including fractures, vugs, stylolites and karst structures in a Middle East well.

Designed to integrate into existing drilling operations, the Retina system generates high-resolution images across multiple drilling-fluid systems, bottomhole assemblies and hole sizes without requiring unique operating parameters. The system operates at temperatures up to 302°F and supports extended drilling runs with more than 65 hours of battery life.

Earlier information, more informed decisions

By moving high-resolution geological information into the drilling phase, the Retina system helps operators reduce subsurface uncertainty earlier in the well construction process. Access to formation insights can support more precise well placement and geosteering, better-informed completion designs and more confident field development planning.

“Retina brings high-resolution imaging directly to the bit, helping operators reduce uncertainty and make more informed choices across the well lifecycle,” said Farid Fedala, director of Well Construction Drilling, SLB.

As deployments continue to expand globally, SLB is also advancing Retina capabilities beyond borehole imaging. Ongoing development is focused on generating additional insights into rock characteristics, geomechanics, fractures and reservoir properties. By extending the value of information captured at the bit, these developments have the potential to further improve decision-making across the well lifecycle.

Industry recognition

Retina received a 2026 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) Spotlight on New Technology® Award, which recognizes technologies that advance offshore energy exploration, development and production.

Spotlight on New Technology® is a registered trademark of the Offshore Technology Conference.