Drilling Rigs & Automation Archives - Drilling Contractor https://drillingcontractor.org/departments/rig Get the latest oil drilling news with DrillingContractor.org Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:51:40 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 202015461 H&P breathes new life into existing diesel engines with dual-fuel gas-blending system https://drillingcontractor.org/hp-breathes-new-life-into-existing-diesel-engines-with-dual-fuel-gas-blending-system-77950 https://drillingcontractor.org/hp-breathes-new-life-into-existing-diesel-engines-with-dual-fuel-gas-blending-system-77950#respond Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:28:53 +0000 https://drillingcontractor.org/?p=77950 By Stephen Whitfield, Senior Editor In a time of shifting industry regulations and cost pressures, onshore drilling contractors remain under tremendous pressure to maintain capital discipline. This means that, even though replacing traditional Tier 2 diesel engines with natural gas, or even dual-fuel, engines can reduce emissions output and fuel costs, the substantial capital cost …

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]]> https://drillingcontractor.org/hp-breathes-new-life-into-existing-diesel-engines-with-dual-fuel-gas-blending-system-77950/feed 0 77950 Novel machine learning agent adds predictive capability to automated generator controls https://drillingcontractor.org/novel-machine-learning-agent-adds-predictive-capability-to-automated-generator-controls-77975 https://drillingcontractor.org/novel-machine-learning-agent-adds-predictive-capability-to-automated-generator-controls-77975#respond Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:28:52 +0000 https://drillingcontractor.org/?p=77975 By Stephen Whitfield, Senior Editor Rig power demand can fluctuate rapidly throughout the well construction process – for example, in North American unconventionals, where operations have become far more power intensive and variable over the past decade. Drilling contractors recognize that keeping more generators online than what’s required for operational purposes wastes fuel and unnecessarily …

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]]> https://drillingcontractor.org/novel-machine-learning-agent-adds-predictive-capability-to-automated-generator-controls-77975/feed 0 77975 Oceaneering pilots ROV on drilling rig offshore Brazil from onshore base https://drillingcontractor.org/oceaneering-pilots-rov-on-drilling-rig-offshore-brazil-from-onshore-base-77881 https://drillingcontractor.org/oceaneering-pilots-rov-on-drilling-rig-offshore-brazil-from-onshore-base-77881#respond Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:53:41 +0000 https://drillingcontractor.org/?p=77881 Oceaneering completed the first piloting of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) on a drilling rig offshore Brazil from its onshore remote operations center (OROC) in Macaé, in support of Petrobras operations. The company’s Subsea Robotics segment and Brazilian subsidiary Marine Production Systems do Brasil LTDA (MPS) conducted the operation, with an Oceaneering pilot remotely controlling …

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]]> https://drillingcontractor.org/oceaneering-pilots-rov-on-drilling-rig-offshore-brazil-from-onshore-base-77881/feed 0 77881 Maximizing return on investment in AI requires understanding, aligning expectations on capabilities https://drillingcontractor.org/maximizing-return-on-investment-in-ai-requires-understanding-aligning-expectations-on-capabilities-77676 https://drillingcontractor.org/maximizing-return-on-investment-in-ai-requires-understanding-aligning-expectations-on-capabilities-77676#respond Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:00:00 +0000 https://drillingcontractor.org/?p=77676 While recent AI discussions in drilling have centered around generative applications – for instance, the use of large language models to analyze manuals and documents – this technology has shown genuine capability in other applications related to data analytics. However, in order to maximize the return on investment from AI, companies must be clear about …

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]]> https://drillingcontractor.org/maximizing-return-on-investment-in-ai-requires-understanding-aligning-expectations-on-capabilities-77676/feed 0 77676 AI integration calls for focus on human element, systems-based thinking https://drillingcontractor.org/ai-integration-calls-for-focus-on-human-element-systems-based-thinking-77492 https://drillingcontractor.org/ai-integration-calls-for-focus-on-human-element-systems-based-thinking-77492#respond Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:00:08 +0000 https://drillingcontractor.org/?p=77492 AI’s explosive growth is presenting both massive opportunities and strategic challenges for the drilling industry. One of those challenges, says David Reid, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Marketing Officer at NOV, is how to integrate the human into the loop along with AI. Speaking with DC on 16 March, Mr Reid highlighted how drillers can …

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]]> https://drillingcontractor.org/ai-integration-calls-for-focus-on-human-element-systems-based-thinking-77492/feed 0 77492 Data mesh architecture can help decentralize data ownership, maximize value https://drillingcontractor.org/data-mesh-architecture-can-help-decentralize-data-ownership-maximize-value-77490 https://drillingcontractor.org/data-mesh-architecture-can-help-decentralize-data-ownership-maximize-value-77490#respond Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:30:38 +0000 https://drillingcontractor.org/?p=77490 When it comes to receiving and transmitting field data into storage and analytics systems, the workflow around that process is often overlooked, says Moray Laing, Director of Rig Systems and Automation at Halliburton. That can lead to inefficient sorting and loss of data value. In this video from the 2026 IADC/SPE International Drilling Conference in …

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]]> https://drillingcontractor.org/data-mesh-architecture-can-help-decentralize-data-ownership-maximize-value-77490/feed 0 77490 Company culture remains key ingredient to successful innovation https://drillingcontractor.org/company-culture-remains-key-ingredient-to-successful-innovation-77488 https://drillingcontractor.org/company-culture-remains-key-ingredient-to-successful-innovation-77488#respond Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:25:30 +0000 https://drillingcontractor.org/?p=77488 Companies must have the right culture in order to successfully and efficiently adopt new and innovative drilling systems, said Eric Kolstad, Executive VP of Drilling at Caturus Energy. This means having complete alignment on the expectations for new technologies, set from senior leadership and disseminated to the entire organization. Without this, new technologies have no …

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]]> https://drillingcontractor.org/company-culture-remains-key-ingredient-to-successful-innovation-77488/feed 0 77488 AI-enabled shale shaker system aims to boost wellbore stability management capabilities https://drillingcontractor.org/ai-enabled-shale-shaker-system-aims-to-boost-wellbore-stability-management-capabilities-77496 https://drillingcontractor.org/ai-enabled-shale-shaker-system-aims-to-boost-wellbore-stability-management-capabilities-77496#respond Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:15:55 +0000 https://drillingcontractor.org/?p=77496 Drilling engineers rely on hydraulic models and drill cuttings transport models to measure hole-cleaning performance. However, these models can become more inaccurate as well depth increases, which can lead to costly nonproductive time (NPT) or stuck pipe incidents. CleanSight, an automated shale shaker monitoring system from DrillDocs, uses industrial cameras embedded with edge computing servers …

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]]> https://drillingcontractor.org/ai-enabled-shale-shaker-system-aims-to-boost-wellbore-stability-management-capabilities-77496/feed 0 77496 Cloud application automates reporting for drilling, completions, workovers on single platform https://drillingcontractor.org/cloud-application-automates-reporting-for-drilling-completions-workovers-on-single-platform-77502 https://drillingcontractor.org/cloud-application-automates-reporting-for-drilling-completions-workovers-on-single-platform-77502#respond Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:06:43 +0000 https://drillingcontractor.org/?p=77502 Mi4’s RigReports, a cloud-based software-as-a-service application, allows operators to manage daily drilling reports, such as the IADC DDR, alongside completions, workover and facility job data. By centralizing these reports in one space, the application helps operators reduce administrative burdens and bolster performance efficiencies, said Talal Nehme, President and CEO of Mi4. DC spoke with Mr …

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]]> https://drillingcontractor.org/cloud-application-automates-reporting-for-drilling-completions-workovers-on-single-platform-77502/feed 0 77502 Industry seeks balance between competition, collaboration in a growing digital landscape https://drillingcontractor.org/industry-seeks-balance-between-competition-collaboration-in-a-growing-digital-landscape-77486 https://drillingcontractor.org/industry-seeks-balance-between-competition-collaboration-in-a-growing-digital-landscape-77486#respond Tue, 24 Mar 2026 21:47:21 +0000 https://drillingcontractor.org/?p=77486 As the drilling industry adopts more digital and automated systems into their workflows, collaboration between companies has become paramount. However, the need to maintain competitive advantage remains even in a collaborative environment, said Austin Groover, Senior Director — NDS Operations at Nabors Industries. Speaking with DC from the 2026 IADC/SPE International Drilling Conference in Galveston, …

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