Halliburton Company HAL and Sekal AS recently made a technology breakthrough in upstream oil operations by deploying the world’s first automated on-bottom drilling system. The automation breakthrough was achieved by integrating Halliburton’s LOGIX™ automation, Sekal’s DrillTronics® and an advanced rig automation control system that allows real-time drilling optimization with the push of a button. By leveraging real-time models of subsurface conditions and fluid dynamics, the system ensures precise well placement while maintaining safety and efficiency.

The companies teamed up to deliver a cutting-edge well for Equinor ASA EQNR on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The well, with an integrated closed-loop control solution, orchestrates autonomous directional drilling with automated wellbore hydraulics and dynamic surface drilling rig equipment control.

The Future of Autonomous Drilling

This successful deployment highlights the viability of automated drilling technology in the oil and gas industry. With the solution that includes LOGIX orchestration, auto-steering, vibration mitigation and hole cleaning optimization, Halliburton, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and Sekal have proven that the future of drilling automation is here. As the leading technology providers revolutionize innovation, automated drilling is set to redefine efficiency, safety and performance in energy exploration.

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Overview of HAL’s LOGIX™ Automation and Remote Operations

Halliburton’s LOGIX™ automation and remote operations offer digital transformation of drilling solutions to reduce operational risks and deliver wells reliably, repeatably and consistently. LOGIX® drilling performance delivers a fully integrated autonomous drilling solution, ensuring precise well positioning, consistent smart well execution and superior drilling efficiency. The platform seamlessly integrates real-time steering controls, collision avoidance and visualization while autonomously mitigating drilling dysfunctions to optimize penetration rates.

Key Picks

Investors interested in the energy sector might look at some top-ranked stocks like Repsol, S.A. REPYY and Prairie Operating Co. PROP.

Repsol explores, develops and produces crude oil products and natural gas, and transports petroleum products, liquefied petroleum gas and refined petroleum. REPYY’s expected EPS (earnings per share) growth rate for the next year is 17%, which aligns favorably with the industry growth rate of 13.10%.

Houston-based Prairie Operating is an independent energy company engaged in the development and acquisition of proven, producing oil and natural gas resources principally in the United States. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PROP’s 2024 earnings indicates 81.19% year-over-year growth.

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Halliburton Company (HAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Repsol SA (REPYY) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Prairie Operating Co. (PROP) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Equinor ASA (EQNR) : Free Stock Analysis Report

This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

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