We‘re remotely operating the Nabors Industries F-36 drilling rig, imported from the United States, from our Real Time Operation Center (RTOC) in Buenos Aires.

The process began with a series of initial tests conducted on well FP-1471 in Fortín de Piedra, where SLB's downhole tools were controlled remotely, all the way from the central control room in Buenos Aires. This was made possible by the innovative technology of Nabors' advanced F-36 drilling rig, which enables commands to be sent remotely to downhole tools, leading to enhanced geosteering quality and drilling performance.

"Using this cutting-edge technology, we can operate tools being used in Neuquén remotely from Buenos Aires, eliminating the need to be on-site,” explains Andrés Valacco, Drilling Director, adding that, “This marks a major step forward in innovation, keeping us at the forefront of technological advancements in the industry.”

The industry is keeping a close eye on these groundbreaking trials in unconventional wells. “We used a dual-control system to carry out these tests. We configured the circuit for remote operations from the control room while keeping the usual personnel available as backup on site. But in the end, their assistance wasn’t necessary,” clarifies Iván Griso, Drilling Principal.

Hernán Pianciola, Manager of the Real Time Operation Center (RTOC) in Buenos Aires, comments that, "We used to simplify things by saying that we were just sending a signal from Buenos Aires to Neuquén." However, he emphasizes, "Reaching this point required an enormous amount of work by the Vice Presidency of Drilling and Work Over (VPWO) team and all the contractors involved to ensure everything ran smoothly."

Valacco details how the system works. “With just one single click, a command issued at the RTOC travels to the drilling rig, then down to the tools located 3,000 meters underground and 5,000 meters along a horizontal branch. These tools receive the signal, interpret it, execute the command, and send back confirmation—ensuring we know in real-time that the operation is working. Making this happen requires extensive system integration.”

The future points to fully remote operational control, optimizing resources and improving efficiency. It all begins with the expertise of "knowing how to drill efficiently," with a medium-term goal of achieving drilling automation and autonomy.

Griso highlights some of the plus points of remote management: “First, it helps bridge the talent gap we foresee in terms of trained personnel as activity increases in the Neuquén Basin. Secondly, it strengthens our centralized operations model, which has brought us many benefits, as we now have a deeper understanding of processes and how to optimize these through the cycle of continuous improvement.”

Another key development is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the drilling process. “AI needs to learn, and for that to happen, we need to drill more wells,” explains Pianciola. “Over time, the software will be able to analyze data and make recommendations to guide decision-making.”