In the present circumstances, six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, I wish to take the opportunity to reach out to you directly, to share my thoughts and commitments on digitalization and sustainability in this current world of uncertainty, and in the new normal that will follow.

 

We at eDrilling have been very fortunate, with none of our employees or our close ones being infected by the virus, but also lucky to be able to work closely with customers staying the course as much as humanly possible in this period.  Whilst the pandemic has had mostly negative effects, there have also been a new sense of possibility.

 

Many of our customers have compressed years of digital transformation into weeks or even days, forever altering the way we (and they) think about well construction. The environmental effects that social distancing and lockdown have had, have made many of our customers think of how to sustain these when out on the other side.  These new “realities” have made many of our customers rethink ways in which they are working and have directed attention to transforming traditional workflows to be effective in a sustainable, digital, and lower-touch future.

 

I am forever grateful to our customers during this difficult time, but while we have demonstrated great progress, I think we together can accelerate and be even bolder in our aspirations going forward.

Hence, I wanted to share the new commitments that eDrilling is taking to address your sustainability and digitalization goals, and to positively impact the lives of energy professionals – now during the pandemic, and beyond.

 

• We commit to continue to reduce the footprint of drilling Our software allows for the latest in AI and Machine Learning to be utilised on old rigs and installations, with perfectly usable drilling-related equipment, and legacy systems. Moreover, we are helping our customers spend much less time per well, both through performance optimization, as well as the avoidance of non-geological incidents causing need for drilling of side-tracks.

 

• Our second commitment is to embrace and extend. We are continuing down the path where our customers can reap the benefits of our technologies, without having to rip and replace their legacy software. Providing our software as microservices, we allow you to leverage the investment you have made over the years in legacy software, whether homegrown or industrial, not to mention the time and cost of having to retrain your workforce wrt new.

 

• Third, we commit to help chart the path to the next normal  We build on 30 years of experience as innovators (as Hitec, we introduced cyber drilling and generic drilling simulator in the early 90s). This year we already started offering Virtual Decision Support (with RTOCs either closed or undermanned), as well as various Virtual Drill Well In Simulator setups (enhancing and replacing legacy DWOP/DIP as well as so-called “immersive” training exercises and simulations).

 

Dating back to the late 80s, we started a journey that have become a paradigm shift in optimizing drilling operations, for hazard prevention, avoidance of NPT and performance optimization. What makes our journey together with all of you even more extraordinary is that we have proven that an open and comprehensive approach has also been a force for a different kind of change as it promotes sustainability in several areas. And with the new commitments listed above, as an eDrilling customer, we invite you to continue to be part in this act of transformation.

As always, we value your feedback.  Please do not hesitate to connect with me, or anyone on the eDrilling team.  We cannot do this alone, and your participation is imperative as we continue this innovative, sustainable, exciting, and crucial journey.

 

I (still) strongly believe digitalization and sustainability is the way forward.

 

With optimism,

Toni Fadnes, CEO əDrilling