Halliburton and Eni Deploy Closed-Loop Drilling Automation

Deepwater automation breakthrough in Indonesia

Halliburton has completed a deepwater exploration well with Eni offshore Indonesia using integrated closed-loop drilling automation, achieving efficiency improvements exceeding 15 percent while maintaining well control in challenging conditions.

The operation represents the first deployment of fully integrated rig automation with Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) in the Asia Pacific region. Halliburton's LOGIX Orchestration service connected rig surface equipment, automated well placement systems, downhole hydraulics, and MPD controls into a unified automated platform, according to details first reported by Automation Watch.

How the integrated system works

Traditional drilling operations separate pressure management from drilling execution, creating coordination gaps that can affect performance and safety. The LOGIX Orchestration service eliminates this separation by coordinating drilling and tripping operations within a single workflow.

The system integrates multiple control layers: drill floor operations, subsurface automation, and real-time pressure management. This architecture enables the platform to make coordinated drilling decisions across surface, subsurface, and downhole systems simultaneously.

"LOGIX Orchestration coordinates drilling decisions in real time for surface, subsurface, and downhole systems," said Jim Collins, Vice President of Sperry Drilling at Halliburton. "When we integrate rig automation with MPD, we close a critical gap and give operators better control, consistency, and performance in complex wells."

Performance in narrow-margin environments

The Indonesia deployment demonstrated the system's capability in wells with narrow operating margins—conditions where the difference between formation pressure and fracture pressure leaves little room for error. The integrated approach delivered consistent pressure control while improving overall drilling efficiency by more than 15 percent.

The collaboration combined Eni's operational knowledge with Halliburton's automation technology to align previously separate control systems. The successful introduction of LOGIX automation to Indonesia operations establishes a template for scaling digital well construction in the region.

Why it matters

Closed-loop automation represents a fundamental shift from decision-support tools to systems that execute drilling operations in real time. The Indonesia deployment proves this technology can function reliably in complex deepwater environments where manual coordination becomes increasingly difficult. For operators working in narrow-margin wells—common in mature basins and challenging geology—integrated automation offers a path to maintain well control while improving efficiency. The 15 percent efficiency gain translates directly to reduced rig time and lower operational costs in expensive deepwater projects.

Industry momentum

This milestone follows Halliburton's recent closed-loop automation deployments in other offshore operations, reflecting growing customer demand for automation that moves beyond advisory systems to active execution. The deployment strengthens Halliburton's position in drilling automation and expands awareness of its capabilities for international deepwater developments.

Details of the operation were first reported by Automation Watch.