Drilling is a race against time. Every second spent waiting, troubleshooting, or recovering from failures is Non-Productive Time (NPT). It’s lost money, lost momentum, and lost opportunities.
At Erdos Miller, we actively track reliability. We build tools to drive NPT as close to zero as possible. We achieve this by implementing features like Manual Sync, Automated Survey Corrections (ASC), and High-Speed Data Transmission, all built on a foundation of relentless reliability to minimize downtime and maximize drilling efficiency.
1. Relentless Reliability - Making Tools Bulletproof
Reliable tools mean fewer failures, less downtime, and more consistent operations. The best way to fight NPT is to prevent failures before they happen. Our bulletproof tools are engineered to withstand the extreme conditions of drilling —high temperatures, relentless vibration, and aggressive shock. But we don’t stop at durability. We continuously refine our designs based on real-world drilling data to eliminate weak points before they ever become a problem. We over-design for extreme drilling to ensure that our tools last longer, fail less, and spend more time in the field where they belong. The result? Fewer unexpected breakdowns, fewer service interruptions, and more drilling.
2. Manual Sync - Saving Pump Cycles & Preventing Costly Delays
Our Manual Sync feature allows for continuous improvement in pump cycles, which directly reduces NPT. While our automatic sync detection algorithm is highly effective, it is not flawless. In rare cases (about once in 10,000 attempts), the system may miss a sync pulse. Without Manual Sync, this would require stopping operations, cycling the pumps, and attempting another sync—costing you time and money.
Every delay adds up quickly. More importantly, in poor drilling conditions where signal transmission is weak, Manual Sync can mean the difference between staying in the hole and pulling out for a costly trip. Many of our customers have attested to how Manual Sync has saved them entire trips and jobs.
Our Manual Sync feature allows customers to:
- Manually assist the system align the synchronization between the decoder and the downhole tool, eliminating errors and the need for pump cycling, ensuring seamless data flow.
- Reduces downtime caused by missed syncs.
- Ensures data transmission in weak signal conditions.
- Saves entire trips in challenging drilling environments.
- Gives users direct control to manually align synchronization, preventing costly delays.
3- automated survey corrections (asc)
Reducing human error and enhancing efficiency
Historically, transferring data, for survey corrections, was done manually, requiring personnel to enter data into multiple software platforms. This manual process was prone to human errors—incorrectly typing a number could cause well-path deviations, leading to time-consuming troubleshooting and operational delays.
With Automated Survey Corrections (ASC) on Eclipse Touch, we have replaced manual data entry with an automated API that directly integrates with three leading survey correction providers: MagVAR, Superior QC, and RoundLab. These companies specialize in correcting survey data using advanced mathematical models, ensuring accuracy without conflicts of interest.
Our Automated Survey Correction Process eliminates:
- The risk of human error in data entry
- The time-consuming manual transfer of survey data
- The delays associated with identifying and fixing data entry mistakes
Previously, waiting for corrections could take valuable time and time is money. With ASC, corrections are now made almost instantaneously, allowing teams to move forward without unnecessary delays, ultimately reducing NPT and improving operational efficiency.
4- High-Speed Data Transmission
When data transmission is slow, you wait longer for critical information, leading to potential downtime and inefficiencies. Our decoding system processes pulses faster than traditional systems, delivering critical data in real-time enabling you to quickly analyze downhole conditions so that decisions can be made with confidence reducing the chances of errors, costly mistakes and delays. Pair that with our advanced data compression technology, and you get even more efficient transmission and better drilling performance.
By continuously innovating in these key areas—reliability, manual sync, automated survey corrections, and high-speed data transmission—we significantly reduce NPT for our customers.
Our commitment to minimizing downtime ensures that you keep drilling with confidence, efficiency, and cost-effectively. We remain resilient in our mission to provide you with tools you can count on, no matter what.
Author:
Nathan Szanto - Engineering Manager
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