Abstract:

As autonomous technology rapidly evolves, the concept of machines making decisions without human intervention captivates the public imagination—whether it's a self-driving car navigating busy streets or an automated rig drilling miles below the earth’s surface. This presentation delves into the journey of drilling automation, drawing compelling parallels to the self-driving vehicles that are transforming personal transportation. Over a six-year period, advanced machine learning (ML) models for Rate of Penetration (ROP) prediction were developed, refined, and deployed, mirroring the path of self-driving cars from theory to reality. These models enable rigs to autonomously optimize drilling performance, feeding recommendations directly into the Driller’s interface, thus reducing manual intervention.

 The presenter will take you on a journey from concept to deployment, highlighting technical challenges like model development, data integration, and teamwork across data science, petroleum engineering, and operations. The presentation will also distill insights from five SPE papers, published by the presenter, to offer a comprehensive overview of this project's milestones and achievements.

Key advantages of automated drilling technology include bridging the skill gap between new and experienced personnel for improved consistency, enabling the drilling of complex wells, providing a centralized dashboard, and reducing drilling costs.

By understanding the transformative power of drilling automation, the audience will gain a glimpse into the future of oil and gas operations, where data-driven ML solutions drive enhanced performance and efficiency, ushering in a new era of autonomous drilling technology.

Biography:

Kriti Singh is a Data Science Lead at Corva with a strong background in petroleum engineering and a Ph.D. from The University of Tulsa. At Corva, she leads the Research and Development of Drilling Automation projects, including the award-winning Closed-Loop Drilling Automation Project, which earned the Best Drilling Technology Award at the Gulf Energy Excellence Awards 2024.

Kriti has played a pivotal role in advancing cutting-edge drilling technologies, collaborating with major oil and gas operators, and contributing to numerous technical papers. A committee member and session chair for the SPE/IADC Drilling Conference, Kriti contributes to shaping technical sessions and discussions on key industry topics. She frequently shares her expertise through webinars and technical presentations at prominent global conferences, establishing herself as a recognized leader in the field.