Libya Completes First Autonomous AI Drilling Operation
Libya's Sirte Oil and Gas Production and Manufacturing Company has finished a directional drilling operation at the Al-Khair oil field using autonomous AI technology. The National Oil Corporation says this is the first such operation in Libya and only the second worldwide.
Schlumberger, a U.S. company, developed the AI application used in the operation. The technology handles autonomous well placement and steering without manual intervention.
Performance Gains
The rate of penetration doubled compared to previous drilling at the same field. The horizontal section of the well, measuring 1,800 feet, was drilled entirely by the AI system.
Real-time adjustments to well trajectory happened automatically. A reservoir adviser engine analyzed all petrophysical logs and interpreted reservoir data without human input.
The well produced 1,060 barrels per day during testing using an electric submersible pump.
What This Means for Operations Teams
For operations professionals, the results show concrete efficiency gains. Doubling the rate of penetration reduces drilling time and associated costs. Automated well steering keeps the horizontal section within reservoir boundaries, improving recovery rates.
The automation removes manual steering decisions from the drilling process. This reduces human error and frees technical personnel to focus on other operational tasks.
The National Oil Corporation said the achievement demonstrates Sirte Company's ability to adopt advanced technologies and highlights the capabilities of national technical personnel.
Operations teams interested in AI Agents & Automation or exploring how these systems work in practice may benefit from understanding AI applications in operations roles.
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