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TECHNOLOGY Five-Year R&D Results In Advanced Drilling System The Integrated Drilling System (IDS), the re- sult of a comprehensive five-year research and development program, was the focus of a two- day seminar at RF-Rogaland Research in Stavanger, Norway. As part of the program, RF's Ulrigg was developed into an IDS proto- type— a fully automated drilling rig which uses advanced computer technologies. The IDS is capable of remotely controlled drilling without drilling crews on the drill floor and automatic tripping. The designers of the system emphasize its safety, speed, quality and cost reduction benefits. The Technology The IDS is viewed as a technical break- through with regard to remote control and automation of drilling operations. The IDS represents three levels of integration: integra- tion and control of the different drill floor machinery into one advanced control room operation station; integration of computer tech- nology and machinery including algorithms for cost-optimized drilling; and integration of the drilling-related services in the same control room (mud-logging, wire-line, cementing, etc.). Additionally, the fully automated drilling pro- cess has safety ramifications, as it removes personnel from the potentially dangerous drill floor environment. Esso in itiated the IDS program in 1990, and has provided the bulk of the investment in the project. RF-Rogaland Research, with its unique drilling facility Ulrigg, has been the main con- tractor. But creating the technical solutions is only one part of the project. Transferring the results from the lab to com- mercial use is of equal importance. Hitec AS, a system supplier, and rig operator Smedvig Drilling have been heavily involved in the de- velopment of the IDS, and both have played a big role in developing the system into a com- mercial product. The entire system is compat- ible, and can be delivered to existing rig de- signs. Expectation of its commercial success is high, as parts of IDS have been delivered by Hitec to the Troll Platform and to the Hibernia Development Project in Canada. It was also ordered by Phillips Petroleum Co. of Norway, where the IDS concept has been taken into the fabrication plans for the 2-4X wellhead plat- form. The Integrated Drilling System (IDS) is the result of a five-year R& D program, and is capable of remotely- controlled drilling without drilling crew on the drill floor, and automatic tripping. Cyberbase, the man-machine computer, is now installed at Ulrigg. 42 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
