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SLB unveils AI-powered tech to enhance drilling efficiency and reduce emissions

SLB has introduced Neuro, an AI-driven autonomous geosteering system that optimizes well drilling by responding to complex subsurfaces, enhancing efficiency, and reducing carbon emissions. Photo courtesy of SLB

Houston energy technology company SLB introduced a new autonomous geosteering system called Neuro, which can reduce the carbon footprint of the drilling operations. Neuro can respond to complex subsurfaces to drill more efficiently with higher-performing wells.

Neuro, which is an AI-based platform,expands the technological foundation of SLB’s Neuro autonomous directional drilling, which drills wells to a specific target. Now, the Neuro autonomous geosteering incorporates high-fidelity downhole measurements that ensure certainty of well placement in the best part of the reservoir.

“Neuro autonomous geosteering is a remarkable industry-first achievement that is for drillers what the autonomous vehicle is for drivers,” Jesus Lamas, president of Well Construction at SLB, says in a news release. “Using advanced cloud and edge AI capabilities, the system automatically selects the best route for drilling the well based on high-fidelity downhole measurements, bringing the well trajectory in line with the real-world conditions of the reservoir.”

SLB deployed Neuro autonomous geosteering that drilled a 2,392-foot lateral section of an onshore well for Shaya Ecuador S.A. SLB's autonomous system completed 25 autonomous geosteering trajectory changes in a matter of seconds according to SLB. By remaining in the most productive layer of the reservoir, the well has become one of the best producers in Ecuador, according to SLB.

“By drilling more consistent and higher-producing wells, our customers can optimize their field development plan while reducing operational emissions from drilling over the lifetime of the asset,” Lamas adds.

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A View From HETI

The flagship 200-megawatt plant will use renewable electricity to create green ammonia. Photo via firstammonia.com

Two global companies with a major presence in Houston are teaming up on a green ammonia plant in Port of Victoria, Texas.

Topsoe, a Danish company with operations in Houston and Bayport, Texas, has been tapped to provide ammonia synthesis technology for the project being developed by First Ammonia, a New York-based company with offices in Houston and Denmark.

The flagship 200-megawatt plant will use renewable electricity to produce green hydrogen through electrolysis, which will then be combined with nitrogen from a nearby Air Liquide pipeline to make green ammonia, according to First Ammonia. It is expected to serve both U.S. and global markets.

According to First Ammonia, every 100,000 tons of electric ammonia produced avoids approximately 240,000 tons of CO2 emissions compared to fossil ammonia

The Topsoe technology used on site is designed to be able to increase production from 10 percent to 100 percent within 30 minutes, and decrease production at a similar rate, allowing the plant to respond to fluctuations from solar- or wind-based energy sources.

“Topsoe is the world leader in ammonia synthesis, and First Ammonia is delighted to continue our partnership with them in establishing a green ammonia industry in the US and around the world,” Joel Moser, CEO of First Ammonia, said in a news release.

Topsoe has previously signed on to supply its 100-megawatt solid oxide electrolyser (SOEC) to the First Ammonia project. However, the company announced in March that it did not extend the contract after multiple delays.

The First Ammonia project was originally expected to come online by 2027 and to produce 1.1 million tonnes of green ammonia. The project is now expected to reach financial before the end of 2026, with construction slated to begin in 2027 and commercial operations launching by 2029.

“As green ammonia projects move from ambition to execution, operational flexibility becomes increasingly important,” Yassir Ghiyati, chief commercial officer at Topsoe, added in a news release. “We’re proud to support First Ammonia with technology designed to enable efficient and reliable green ammonia production. We look forward to continuing to work with the First Ammonia team to help bring this important U.S project to life.”

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