‘New benchmark’ for triad’s drilling JV with delivery of first wells under 20 days

Three players, two incorporated in the United States (U.S.) and one in the Middle East, recently set up a new joint venture, named Turnwell, which has ticked off its list the first batch of wells in its initial 144-well program under 20 days.

As a result, the UAE-based ADNOC Drilling, which joined forces with the Texas-headquartered pair, SLB and Patterson-UTI, to establish Turnwell Industries as its unconventional drilling arm, claims that these first wells have set a “new benchmark,” thanks to a $1.7 billion contract that enables its country to get hold of its unconventional oil and gas resources to meet growing global demand for affordable, accessible energy.

Abdulrahman Abdulla Al Seiari, CEO of ADNOC Drilling, highlighted: “Closing the Turnwell JV with SLB and Patterson-UTI advances our plans to unlock the UAE’s world-class unconventional energy resources, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a global leader in the responsible supply of energy. This joint venture is a groundbreaking achievement and is already paying dividends through the significant reduction in well delivery time as seen through the first wells being delivered in record time.”

The JV works for the UAE’s Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) to unlock unconventional oil and gas resources that traditional extraction methods cannot bring to the surface. These resources, which tend to be trapped in subsurface reservoirs that require additional technology and processes to be set free, include but are not limited to the offshore, oil sands, shale oil/gas, tight oil/gas, and gas hydrates.

ADNOC Drilling holds a 55% majority equity stake, SLB a 30% one, and Patterson-UTI the remaining 15% equity interest in the JV envisioned to spearhead the UAE’s new unconventional energy journey, with the acceleration of the newly created player’s initial 144 unconventional wells earlier this year.

Furthermore, Turnwell is said to have delivered the fastest well time so far in the 144 well drilling campaign of a record 19.9 days, with an expectation for further significant efficiency gains. Data shows that the initial wells brought a 13% improvement in well delivery time compared to the previous record and a 53% reduction in well delivery over the four wells in the pad. 

According to ADNOC Drilling, the JV used advanced measurement while drilling technology, drill bit designs, and new-generation rotary steerable systems to curb costs and time. As Turnwell’s success is tied to its ability to deliver low-cost wells, the record the first ones achieved is perceived to set the JV firmly on track to reach its goals.

The UAE-based drilling player underlined: “Turnwell will leverage cutting-edge innovations in AI smart drilling design, completions engineering, and production solutions to responsibly deliver and secure the UAE’s unconventional energy needs and resources.

“Turnwell also benefits from a direct relationship with ADNOC Drilling’s JV with Alpha Dhabi, Enersol, which is investing in, and acquiring the IP of, innovative energy services technology companies that bring greater operational efficiency.”

With Abu Dhabi estimated to hold around 220 billion barrels of unconventional oil and 460 tcf of unconventional gas in place, the recovery of the resources is expected to require many thousands of wells to be delivered, over and above the initial 144 wells. 

ADNOC has been pursuing multiple power and decarbonization dishes, but the latest appetizer to come out of its energy kitchen, before the next main course with yet another project start-up takes the spotlight, is a recently held ceremony to mark the construction of structures for a massive sour gas development off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.

The project, designed to have fully unmanned offshore facilities, is expected to operate with zero emissions, marrying nuclear and renewable sources to propel decarbonization forward.