Schlumberger, an oilfield services company, will use Stabilising System for Deep Drilling, SSDD, a proprietary offshore drilling technology of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, ADNOC, after signing an agreement here at ADIPEC 2016.

The SSDD technology greatly improves offshore drilling operations by improving borehole stability and reducing drill times, with significant potential savings for operating companies.

The licensing agreement was signed today by Abdulmunim Saif Al Kindy, ADNOC’s Director of Exploration, Development and Production, and Djamel Idri, Schlumberger’s General Manager and Vice President, UAE, at ADIPEC.

Al Kindy said, "The international licensing of this technology represents an important milestone for the company. The SSDD greatly reduces complications in the offshore drilling process, where conditions are often challenging and costs are high. We are excited to see this invention shared through this global agreement, which will spread ADNOC’s technological expertise worldwide."

The licensing of the SSDD system represents the first time a proprietary ADNOC technology will have been commercialised abroad.

The system was developed by Fahed Al Ameri, ADNOC Drilling Department Manager, and Farhaad Khaled Saeed Mohamed Al Awadhi, ADMA OPCO Drilling Technical Support Manager and is manufactured in the UAE.

"The addition of the SSDD technology to Schlumberger’s industry-leading portfolio of drilling tools and services presents an opportunity to improve drilling performance in offshore operations," said Idri.

"By minimising down-time and increasing drilling stability, operators stand to reap savings in both time and unexpected costs. We are pleased to bring ADNOC’s technology to our customers, and look forward to further cooperation between our companies," he said.

Downhole stability has been a major challenge for offshore operators, where environmental concerns prevent the use of many additives to drilling fluid.