Petrobas hopes to save upto 100 million per year by automating part of its rig fleet by 2030. The aim is to reduce the average time spent drilling offshore wells, thereby generating financial, safety and environmental gains.
Automation drilling involves the use of apps on different equipment on a rig. Instead of employees executing dozens of commands for a repetitive activity, a single operator triggers a sequence of commands and supervises the execution.
The automation has the potential to reduce emissions by around 30,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year after 2030, the Brazillian company stated. The incorporation of automation will be done gradually and in a planned manner during the next contracting cycle. The autonomous drill exists but is little used in Brazil.
Petrobras is currently purchasing nine rigs, including three for development drilling in the Atapu and Sepia pre-salt fields, and two for the revitalisation of the Roncador field.
Petrobras is presently running a pilot project for automation drilling on two rigs on hire – the Foresea drillship Norbe IX and the Etesco drillship Etesco Takatsugu J – that is expected to be completed by the first half of 2025.
Aside minimizing cost, automation has the potential to increase the company’s revenues by accelerating production schedule and minimise worker exposure to the drilling site where the risks of injury is greater.
