DEPARTMENTS • DRILLING & COMPLETION TECH DIGEST
OPC Foundation, FieldComm
join forces on interoperability
of instrumentation devices
The OPC Foundation and the FieldComm
Group have announced a collaboration
to drive multi-vendor interoperability of
instrumentation devices based on OPC
UA and the extensions for the field level,
named OPC UA FX (Field eXchange). This
development will incorporate preliminary
work by both organizations. This will
ensure that the market will have only
one single standard. The aim is to provide
an interoperable interface between PLC/
DCS and instrumentation devices, such as
transmitters, instruments and actuators.

The solution will support different indus-
tries, including oil and gas .

To begin this work, a new OPC UA
Instrumentation Working Group is
being hosted by the OPC Foundation,
under the leadership of the Field Level
Communications Initiative. Participation
in the working group is open to members
of the OPC Foundation, as well as corporate
entity members of the FieldComm Group.

Many well-known manufacturers in the
process and factory automation industries
are represented .

In order to achieve inter-vendor interop-
erability of instrumentation devices, the
working group will add to the UAFX base
specifications the definition of interfaces
and behaviors which are typical for instru-
mentation devices, including:
■ Commonly used interfaces and data
types for the industries mentioned above
including functional safety;
■ Diagnostic information specific to
instrumentation devices;
■ Operation modes of instrumentation
devices; and
■ State machines and timing models for
instrumentation-specific functionality,
where appropriate.

The new instrumentation device profile
specification will use PubSub and can be
combined with different underlying com-
munication protocols (e.g. UDP/IP) and
physical layers (e.g. Ethernet-APL) to sup-
port all relevant use cases in discrete and
process manufacturing, including safety
instrumentation based on OPC UA Safety
and deterministic data exchange based
on Ethernet Time-Sensitive Networking ,
where appropriate.

8 An operator in the Middle East recently used a Neuro autonomous solution from
Schlumberger to autonomously drill the curve and lateral sections of a well
while achieving a 13% increase in rate of penetration.

Curve and lateral sections of Middle East well drilled
autonomously using Schlumberger’s Neuro solution
Schlumberger recently launched its
Neuro autonomous solutions , which use
advanced cloud-based software and con-
nected intelligent systems to create a
continuous feedback loop between sur-
face and downhole. This increases the
efficiency and consistency of E&P opera-
tions while reducing human interven-
tion and footprint . The solutions are seen
as a step to achieve fully autonomous
operations .

The first Neuro solution being intro-
duced delivers steering autonomy for
directional drilling. The solution uses
artificial intelligence with surface and
downhole automation workflows to
self-determine steering sequences and
deliver the well trajectory on plan. As
the well is drilled, a real-time continu-
ous feedback loop between an intelligent
downhole system and a surface advisory
system automates downlinks, reducing
control loop time. The instantaneous cor-
relation between downhole and surface
actions in accordance with the well plan
significantly reduces risk, refines preci-
sion and increases efficiency —reducing
associated drilling emissions.

Neuro autonomous solutions for direc-
tional drilling have been deployed across
North America, South America, Middle
East and East Asia. The solution has
been deployed on more than 50 rigs
across 10 countries and executed on 131
customer wells, drilling 612,000 ft.

In the Middle East, an operator recent-
ly used the solution to autonomously drill
a well from 22° to 90° inclination with a
curve section measuring 2,500 ft and
a 5,400-ft lateral section. Both sections
were performed using an autonomous-
capable rotary steerable system that con-
tributed to the balance between surface
and downhole autonomy enabling the
operator to reduce downlinks by 33%,
compared with offset wells drilled in
manual mode, while achieving a 13%
increase in rate of penetration .

Separately, Schlumberger
also launched its Digital Platform Partner
Program, which will allow indepen-
dent software vendors (ISV) to lever-
age the openness and extensibility of
Schlumberger’s digital platform to build
new applications and software and offer
them to the market .

At launch, nine ISVs are offering soft-
ware solutions to Schlumberger custom-
ers, and the platform has been designed
with an open framework to quickly
onboard new partners. The solutions are
built and deployed through the DELFI
digital E&P platform and integrate with
industry-standard data platforms. This
enables enhanced interoperability across
workflows and organizations.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022 • DRILLING CONTRACTOR