A major operator faced high overbalance pressures, narrow drilling windows, and heterogeneous sand bodies in offshore Asia. The primary objective was to obtain accurate, high-quality formation pressure data during drilling operations while minimizing operational risks and tool/battery stress. Achieving this was crucial for improved reservoir characterization, better permeability calibration, and risk mitigation related to differential sticking and tool plugging under extreme pressure conditions. Previous conventional formation-pressure-while-drilling (FPWD) solutions suffered from limited reliability and measurement quality under high pressures, leading to higher operational risk and inadequate reservoir evaluation. As a result, the operator required a solution that surpassed existing options.
The StethoScope Ultra service performed reliably under overbalance pressures up to 11,000 psi, delivering accurate pressure measurements across zones with varying permeability. Its key innovations—reinforced probe and piston assembly, redesigned pretest module, and a high-power electric motor system—enabled tailored pretest options through advanced prejob planning digital simulations. These supported rapid adaptation to diverse reservoir profiles and faster data acquisition for the operator. The solution improved pressure testing reliability, lateral connectivity assessment, and production optimization in the field while setting a benchmark for other ultrahigh overbalance deepwater assets.
