GA Drilling, a company specializing in geothermal drilling technology, has announced a technical partnership with Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras) and its research, development and innovation center, Cenpes.
The aim of this collaboration is to develop a new-generation autonomous drilling system, promising a significant reduction in well construction costs and the risks associated with complex drilling applications.
Cutting-edge technology and cost reduction
The heart of this innovation lies in GA Drilling’s downhole anchoring and steering system.
This technology will enable complex, deep offshore wells to be drilled from a light intervention vessel, rather than using semi-submersible platforms or more expensive drillships.
According to GA Drilling, this approach could save up to 30% of well construction costs.
However, some experts question the real efficiency and safety of this system in extremely harsh offshore conditions.
“The benefits of our drilling technologies translate into greater efficiency, lower costs, a smaller operational footprint and, ultimately, lower overall risk,” says Igor Kocis, CEO and co-founder of GA Drilling.
Nevertheless, this optimistic view needs to be tempered by rigorous testing and independent validation to ensure that the promises of cost and risk reduction are delivered in practice.
Innovation and Sustainable Development
GA Drilling’s drilling system incorporates advanced features such as sophisticated drilling automation and control systems, as well as real-time communications via a cable to the surface, optimizing the drilling process directly at rock level.
These innovations minimize the hazards associated with pipe handling, and reduce ascent times and well control risks.
However, increased technological complexity could introduce new types of unanticipated operational risks.
Located in Rio de Janeiro, Cenpes is a leading research and innovation center, covering over 308,000 square meters and including more than 116 laboratories and pilot plants equipped with state-of-the-art technologies.
With a team of over 1,100 skilled employees, Cenpes is dedicated to research to support Petrobras’ business strategies and generate value, particularly in the areas of oil and gas exploration and production, refining, gas and energy, logistics and product development for commercialization and sustainability.
Despite this impressive infrastructure, questions remain about the alignment of Cenpes’ priorities with GA Drilling’s practical and commercial requirements.
Investment and future prospects
In April, GA Drilling announced a first round of funding of $15 million after a series of successful tests.
Investors include Nabors, a global provider of drilling services and technologies, Christian Oldendorff’s new Family Office, alfa8, former EQT CEO Thomas von Koch, geothermal fund Underground Ventures and Slovakia-based Neulogy Ventures.
According to Thomas von Koch, former CEO of EQT Group, “The potential of geothermal energy to transform the energy industry is obvious to insiders, but the question now is how to access this natural battery beneath our feet. GA Drilling’s technology offers the best path to true baseload power delivery because of its ability to reach depths and temperatures in an economically viable ecosystem.”
However, the path to widespread adoption of this technology is littered with technical and regulatory hurdles that must be overcome.
The partnership between GA Drilling and Petrobras marks an important step towards the global adoption of geothermal energy, promising a revolution in the way wells are drilled.
However, the success of this collaboration will depend on the ability of both companies to overcome the technological, economic and regulatory challenges inherent in innovation in the energy sector.
