Major operator drills Asia’s first well section delivered with autonomous geosteering, setting a new benchmark

Autonomous geosteering sets new operational standard for Malaysia

Asia’s first fully autonomous geosteering operation in offshore Malaysia successfully optimized well placement in a challenging sand reservoir, utilizing advanced AI and real-time mapping technologies.

The autonomous system maintained reservoir contact 3 m above the reservoir base with minimal human intervention, delivering more efficient operations, enhanced well productivity, and setting a new benchmark for automated well construction in the region.

Leveraging AI automation to improve well placement accuracy

Offshore Malaysian fields face complex subsurface challenges such as structural uncertainties, well control concerns, intricate sand continuity, and uncertain fluid contacts.

During this project, the operator sought an innovative approach to maximize recovery from a thin, variably dipping sand reservoir, while minimizing drilling risk and improving wellbore placement accuracy.

Autonomous geosteering workflow maximizes reservoir exposure

To address these issues, Petronas selected to deploy a fully autonomous geosteering system, leveraging the AI capabilities of the Subsurface Advisor™ intelligent subsurface drilling solution and the Neuro Autonomous Geosteering™ solution.

The integrated product suite aimed to automate real-time subsurface data interpretation and well trajectory adjustments, enabling precise navigation through uncertain geology, and enabling operational geologists to shift focus to higher-value oversight tasks, improving decision quality and production outcomes.

Leveraging the real-time reservoir mapping and automated inversion in the GeoSphere HD™ high-definition reservoir mapping-while-drilling service, and the automated boundary picking available in the Subsurface Advisor solution, the operator managed to continuously map the thin sand body. The project team were able to steer the wellbore within 3 m above the reservoir base throughout the entire lateral section.

The advanced AI system dynamically updated geological models and executed four autonomous trajectory changes—each with sub-20-second decision cycles—demonstrating high operational agility and alignment with expert geologist interpretation.

The PowerDrive Orbit™ precise and versatile rotary steerable system and EcoScope™ multifunction logging-while-drilling service ensured directional control, high-fidelity formation evaluation, and uninterrupted data for the autonomous engine. Utilizing the TruLink™ definitive dynamic survey-while-drilling service enabled robust telemetry and survey feedback for the project team.

By running these technologies in autonomous mode, Petronas drilled efficiently and accurately within the clean target sand, improved their well placement, and maximized productive reservoir exposure—all while freeing up bandwidth to focus on higher value oversight tasks.