SLB is attempting to shift the technical standard for well interventions by moving away from traditional hydraulic actuation toward real-time electrical control. The company recently launched its ExaCT electrical downhole coiled tubing (CT) control system, a platform designed to replace pressure-dependent mechanics with electrical communication, power delivery, and telemetry. This strategic pivot aims to provide operators with enhanced visibility and precision during complex reservoir access tasks. By integrating continuous communication across the toolstring, SLB is positioning the ExaCT system to handle demanding applications, including multilateral and extended-reach wells.
ExaCT Platform Replaces Hydraulic Actuation
The ExaCT system functions by combining electrical power, telemetry, and downhole measurements to enable the actuation and verification of tools throughout an intervention. Unlike conventional hydraulic methods that rely on pressure changes, this electrical approach allows for on-demand tool actuation and real-time monitoring of downhole conditions. According to SLB, the platform is designed to support a variety of services within a single run, such as logging, stimulation, isolation, and shifting operations. This capability is intended to allow interventions to be adapted as conditions change, which the company suggests could reduce the necessity for multiple, separate runs. Furthermore, SLB is positioning this technology as a foundational component for developing more automated intervention workflows in the future.
Operational Performance in Field Deployments
Field data provided by SLB indicates that the ExaCT system can deliver significant time and resource savings compared to hydraulic alternatives. In a specific six-lateral well intervention, the system reportedly reduced intervention time by approximately 175 hours. During this operation, the time required to enter each lateral was reduced to about 12 minutes, whereas conventional hydraulic systems required between six to eight hours. The deployment also stimulated more than 21,000 feet of reservoir contact and reduced fluid consumption by more than 3,000 barrels. In separate cleanout and scale-removal operations, SLB claims the system reduced intervention time by up to 30% and lowered fluid consumption by 20%, while maintaining 81 hours of continuous downhole operation.
Key Takeaways
- The ExaCT system replaces pressure-dependent hydraulic actuation with real-time electrical control, power, and telemetry.
- In a six-lateral well intervention, the technology reduced lateral entry time from six to eight hours down to approximately 12 minutes.
- The platform enables multiple services, including logging, stimulation, and isolation, to be performed during a single intervention run.
EnergyInsyte's Take
In our view, SLB’s launch of the ExaCT system signals a concentrated effort to digitize and electrify the most mechanically intensive aspects of well intervention. By decoupling tool actuation from hydraulic pressure, SLB is addressing a long-standing bottleneck in multilateral well management: the time-intensive nature of navigating complex geometries. The reported reduction in lateral entry time from hours to minutes is a significant metric that suggests a major leap in operational velocity. If these field results scale, the transition from hydraulic to electrical control could become a primary driver for reducing both operational expenditures and fluid waste in mature reservoir management.
Questions & Answers
How does the ExaCT system differ from conventional coiled tubing intervention methods?
The ExaCT system replaces pressure-dependent hydraulic actuation with a combination of electrical power, telemetry, and downhole measurements. This allows for real-time electrical control and continuous communication with downhole tools, rather than relying on hydraulic pressure changes.
What specific operational efficiencies has SLB reported from field deployments?
SLB reported that in a six-lateral well intervention, the system reduced intervention time by approximately 175 hours and enabled lateral entry in about 12 minutes, compared to six to eight hours with hydraulic systems. It also reduced fluid consumption by over 3,000 barrels in that specific instance.
Which intervention services can be integrated into a single ExaCT run?
The platform is designed to support multiple services in a single run, specifically including logging, stimulation, isolation, and shifting operations.
Can the ExaCT system support complex well architectures?
Yes, SLB states that the system's continuous communication across the toolstring enables on-demand actuation for a wide range of applications, including extended-reach and multilateral wells.
Source: Businesswire
