Improving PDC perfomance, Prudhoe Bay, Alaska

Design at the customer interface represents a paradigm change in the commun ication chain from field applications, drilling engineering, and drill-bit design. The operator was able to improve drilling efficiencies and reduce d rilling costs by use of polycrystalline-diamond-compact (PDC) technology in an application that historically had used roller-cone bits. Two record-bre aking performances challenged perceptions about PDC steerability and contro llability in high-angle geosteered horizontal sidetrack operations and redu ced drilling cost per foot by 50%.