Slovakian drilling technology company GA Drilling has forged a partnership with Petrobras to improve efficiency in deep drilling processes.  

The collaboration involves the Brazilian state-owned oil and gas company’s research and innovation centre, Cenpes, and focuses on developing an advanced downhole drilling system.  

This initiative is expected to improve well construction by lowering costs and reducing risks in challenging drilling environments.  

Cenpes, which employs more than 1,100 people, conducts research in the oil and gas sector to support Petrobras' business goals and drive value creation.  

The centre’s research covers various industry aspects including exploration, production, refining, logistics and sustainability.  

Cenpes is also focused on developing sustainable energy technologies, with particular emphasis on decarbonisation and renewable energy. 

The partnership leverages GA Drilling's technology, which includes a downhole anchoring and drive system that is key to an autonomous reeled drilling system.  

It is set to enable the drilling of deep and complex offshore wells from lighter and less expensive vessels, potentially saving up to 30% in well construction costs. 

GA Drilling's system is designed to enhance drilling efficiency by replacing conventional drill pipes with continuous tubing on reels, reducing operational hazards, tripping times and well control risks.  

It incorporates advanced drilling automation, control systems and real-time wireline communications, optimising the drilling process directly at the rock face. 

GA Drilling CEO and co-founder Igor Kocis said: “Taken together, the benefits of our drilling technologies equal better efficiency, leading to lower costs, smaller operational footprint, and ultimately, lower risk overall.  

“Working with Petrobras and Cenpes enables us to continue development at lightning speed, utilising their state-of-the-art testing infrastructure and environments to advance our mission of global geothermal energy adoption.” 

Last month, Petrobras commenced drilling at the Uchuva-2 appraisal well in Colombia's offshore Tayrona block, together with Ecopetrol.  

This operation is intended to determine the size of the natural gas discovery made in the Uchuva-1 exploration well in July 2022.