Eni, Halliburton Deploy Asia Pacific's First Closed-Loop Rig

Deepwater automation milestone achieved offshore Indonesia

Halliburton and Eni have completed what they describe as Asia Pacific's first deployment of a fully integrated closed-loop drilling automation system, combining rig automation with managed pressure drilling (MPD) on a deepwater exploration well off Indonesia's coast.

The LOGIX Orchestration service coordinated drilling and tripping operations in a unified workflow, eliminating the traditional separation between drilling execution and pressure management. The system integrated rig surface equipment, automated well placement, downhole hydraulics, and MPD controls into a single connected platform.

According to Halliburton, the deployment delivered efficiency improvements exceeding 15 percent while maintaining well control in an environment with narrow operating margins—a critical consideration in deepwater operations where pressure windows are tight and errors costly.

Why it matters

Closed-loop automation represents a significant shift from decision-support tools to systems that execute drilling operations in real time. For operators working in deepwater environments with narrow pressure margins, this integration reduces human error, improves consistency, and can materially impact project economics. The 15 percent efficiency gain translates directly to reduced rig time and lower operational costs in one of the industry's most expensive operating environments.

Technical integration across multiple systems

The deployment brought together multiple layers of control that traditionally operated independently. Jim Collins, Vice President of Sperry Drilling at Halliburton, explained that LOGIX Orchestration coordinates drilling decisions in real time across surface, subsurface, and downhole systems.

"When we integrate rig automation with MPD, we close a critical gap and give operators better control, consistency, and performance in complex wells," Collins said. "This deployment proves the model scales in a deepwater environment."

The collaboration combined Eni's operational expertise with Halliburton's automation technology to align drill floor control, subsurface automation, and pressure management within a single operating framework.

Broader automation momentum

Halliburton characterized the Indonesia deployment as part of growing momentum for closed-loop automation in offshore operations. The company noted increasing customer demand for automation that moves beyond advisory functions to real-time execution.

The service provider recently secured additional work supporting TotalEnergies' deepwater development in Block 58 offshore Suriname, suggesting continued uptake of advanced automation capabilities in complex offshore projects.

The technical details and performance metrics were first reported by Offshore Energy.