SLB introduces OnWave autonomous logging platform
Global energy technology firm SLB has launched OnWave, its autonomous logging platform, marking what the company describes as a significant breakthrough in formation evaluation technology for the oil and gas sector.
The groundbreaking platform eliminates the need for traditional wireline cables and units, instead autonomously acquiring multiple high-fidelity measurements downhole. This cable-free design represents a substantial efficiency improvement, taking less than half the time to deploy compared with conventional wireline platforms.
"The OnWave platform marks the beginning of a new era in formation evaluation," said Frederik Majkut, President of Reservoir Performance at SLB. "By streamlining how we gather high-fidelity measurements downhole, we are opening up key opportunities for our customers to integrate data-driven decision making into their workflows across the well life cycle."
The technology addresses critical operational challenges in well logging by enabling drill pipe rotation and mud circulation during logging operations. This capability enhances well safety whilst minimising the risk of stuck pipe events, which can prove costly and time-consuming for operators.
Unlike conventional cableless logging platforms, OnWave maintains constant communication with surface operations, verifying tool position and functionality downhole. This feature provides operators with confidence in data acquisition quality and helps avoid remedial logging runs.
The platform has already demonstrated impressive results across diverse basins in the United States and Middle East. In South Texas, OnWave reduced landing time to total depth from several hours to just 27 minutes, which is a 70% improvement over conventional deployment techniques.
The technology processes measurements at surface to provide integrated petrophysics and acoustic insights, enabling exploration and production operators to enhance stimulation and completion designs whilst reducing risks in asset field development.
SLB's OnWave platform can be deployed in any well trajectory without requiring an onsite crew, making it particularly valuable for remote or challenging locations where traditional logging methods may prove difficult or costly to implement.
