Data-driven drilling optimization reduces connection times by 67% for major Middle Eastern oil and gas company

By transitioning from traditional pre-connection practices to a condition-based approach using real-time data, SLB helped a major oil and gas company in the Middle East reduce pre-connection times by 67%, cutting 13.5 hours of rig time per well.

Using insights from DrillOps™ performance insights and Techlog™ drilling interpretation, the team streamlined pre‑connection steps while maintaining hole stability and well integrity, establishing a repeatable, data‑supported workflow for future wells.

Reducing invisible lost time through condition‑based pre‑connection analysis

Conventional drilling procedures often include washing and reaming before every connection to ensure smooth tripping and effective hole cleaning. While this approach is widely accepted, it can lead to significant cumulative invisible lost time (ILT), particularly in stable hole sections where such practices may not be necessary.

This study aimed to evaluate the operational value of these routine pre‑connection steps and implement a software‑enabled, data‑driven workflow to minimize connection times without compromising hole stability or well integrity.

Data‑driven refinement of pre‑connection steps for safer, faster operations

Using DrillOps performance insights and Techlog drilling interpretation, the team was able to isolate, measure, and compare pre-connection activities against real-time indicators, including:

• Torque and drag
• Rate of penetration (ROP)
• Equivalent circulating density (ECD)
• Gas trends

The analysis revealed that routine washing and reaming provided no benefits in stable hole sections—in some instances, these practices heightened the risk of washouts and other hole-related problems.

Using these insights, SLB developed a revised pre-connection procedure that reduced wash-up and ream-down to a single joint or eliminated them entirely unless specific indicators signaled a need. This condition-based approach was applied safely and consistently during live operations, ensuring that operational risks were mitigated.

The optimized workflow delivered 13.5 hours of verified time savings per well through a 67% reduction in pre-connection time. These time savings were achieved without any adverse impact on hole stability or well integrity, as validated through well tracking. The success of this approach reinforced operational and management confidence, enabling more efficient and cost-effective operations across the project.

The project also formalized a new standard operating procedure (SOP) for pre-connection practices, creating a repeatable precedent for future wells. By adopting this data-driven methodology, the company is now positioned to sustain efficiency gains and improve overall well delivery performance in subsequent projects.