All language subtitles for Tomorrows.World.Today.S06E03.Horozontal.Drilling.1080p.WEB.h264-CBFM_track3_[eng]

[narrator]
On Tomorrow's World Today,

we explore the cutting-edge
advances that are shaping
four different worlds.

The world of inspiration,

where the wonders
of the natural world
amaze and inspire us.

The world of creation,
where ideas come to life
from traditional arts.

The world of innovation,

where ideas and inventions
move us all forward.

The world of production,

where innovations
are mass-produced
to improve our lives.

From Inventionland
world headquarters,

here's your host,
George Davison.

Hey, everyone.
I'm George Davison.

Now, how hard
do you think it would
be to drill a hole?

Now, I'm just trying
to go down a few feet.

Our country has a rich
history in drilling.

In fact,
it all started in 1859
in Oil City, Pennsylvania,

where Edwin Drake
successfully drilled

the world's first
commercial oil well.

It was a gamechanger
for the industry.

And it put Oil City
on the map as the birthplace
of the oil industry.

But the real revolution,

it came with the invention
of the horizontal drill.

Instead of drilling
straight down,

engineers began
to drill sideways,

allowing them to access
more oil and more gas
from a single well.

Horizontal drilling
was first tested in the 1920s.

But it wasn't until the 1980s
and the 1990s

that the technology
really took off.

Now, today, horizontal
drilling is a vital part
of the oil and gas industry.

By drilling horizontally,

we can access oil
and gas reserves
that are located under

a sensitive ecosystem
without disturbing
the surface above.

Now, what this means
is that we can extract
the resources we need

while minimizing the impact
on the environment.

I'm sending Greg
to the world of production

to explore how horizontal
drilling technology

is helping us save
our energy costs

without hurting
our environment.

[Greg] We all know
the Earth is diverse.

I'm not just talking
about life on Earth,

I'm talking
about the planet itself.

It's filled with
different terrains
and geologic structures,

both on the land
and under the sea.

Now, if you're a company
that's in the business

of drilling to extract
energy resources,

you're up against a host
of different challenges.

That's why we're here,
in Tulsa, Oklahoma,
at Helmerich & Payne

to talk with the experts about
how they're helping companies
meet those challenges

to produce the best outcomes.

-Hi, LaRae.
-Hi, Greg.

-Welcome to Helmerich & Payne.
-Thank you very much.

Now, I really wanna learn more

about the history
of your company.

And I understand
you're the person

to walk me through it.

Absolutely. Would you like
to follow me to the gallery?

LaRae, this is great.
Tell me about
these photographs.

Sure. Let's start over here
with Mr. Walt Helmerich.

He founded our company
with Mr. Bill Payne
back in 1920.

After his leadership,
it was passed on to his son,
Walt Helmerich III,

who then passed the company
on to Hans Helmerich,

who, today, is the chairman
of our board along with
our CEO, Mr. John Lindsay.

[Greg] This is
an amazing photograph.
When was this taken?

[LaRae] This picture
was taken in the 1950s.

But this is the picture
that I really wanna show you.

This is the rig that
my father started on
in 1961,

H&P Rig 38.

From there, he went
to South America,

worked in several
different countries.

But today,
we have 200 active rigs

not only in South America,

but we have rigs
in the Middle East,

and most recently, Australia.

So H&P really
is a family business.

-You're second generation H&P.
-Yes, I am.

Well, uh, we could talk
about the history
of H&P all day long,

it's fascinating stuff.

But what I'm really here
to learn about

is the innovations
and technology
that you're using

to push drilling forward
into the future.

Absolutely.
And I've got just the guy
for you to talk to.

His name is
Mr. Steven Estvold.
Come with me.

[Greg] So, Steven,
Helmerich & Payne has been
around for over a 100 years.

Now, no company
can survive that long

without being able to evolve.

How are you handling that?

It starts with our customers.

Our customers are focused
on maximizing production

from a certain volume of rock.

And they leave the drilling
of that rock to us.

You may have
heard of unconventional
or horizontal drilling.

To do that type of drilling
today requires what we call
super-spec drilling rigs

and advanced technology.

Some of that technology,
we can operate remotely

from our remote
operating center.

-I would really like
to see that center.
-Let's go take a look.

Steven, the Remote
Operation Center

is a lot more impressive
in person than what I had
visualized in my mind.

Well, thank you.

It's a
state-of-the-art facility

and it's a very important
aspect of our operation.

[Greg] Now, you're not
just doing testing here,

you're actually operating
rigs all across the globe
right from this room.

[Steven] That's right.
Different countries,
thousands of miles away.

And when we drill,
we're miles below
the surface of the Earth.

[Greg] I'd really like
to see all this in action.

-Can you show me
how you monitor here?
-Let's take a look.

What we're looking at here,

and what this purple line
represents is a well
we're drilling today.

And we drilled almost
two miles vertically,
straight down,

and with horizontal drilling,
we have to drill a curve.

And then from there,
we drill horizontally.

Here, we're around
24,000 feet deep,
which is two miles away.

And we're on our way
to drilling three miles,
horizontally.

Wow, so three miles out.

Now, I know you have a target,
you have a destination
that you're working towards.

How do you not miss it?

That's where technology
comes into play.

We have a window.
This is where our customers
said we could be.

We could be
16 feet left or right,
high or low of a plan.

We can see where we are today.
We're about six feet low
and five feet to the right.

Pretty close
to dead on target

after all that distance.
How does that really work?

Let me give you an example.

Imagine you had to walk
three miles that way.

You only have a compass
and you can only check
your position every 100 feet.

Well, that sounds
pretty impossible.

I mean, I know
my directional challenges.

[chuckles] I'm not
gonna make it that far
with just a compass.

That's right.
Well, that's where
technology comes into play.

These little green dots
are telling us,

the last time we checked in,
where we were
in relation to that plan.

And once we get
that data back,

we have to decide,
"Do I go left, do I right?
Do I go up or down?"

So the margin of error
is really, really tight.

I don't know
how you could do that.

It's incredibly close
and that's what we do
for our customers.

-And all of that's controlled
right from this room?
-[Steven] That's right.

Well, what else are
we learning from the screens?

Well, we deliver
a whole range of different
outcomes to our customers,

some of which is reliability
and uptime.

So now, when we look
at these screens,

we're basically seeing
your entire global fleet
and getting feedback from it.

That's right. This is
the entire FlexRig fleet.

And we can see
the equipment health.

We send data back,

we get notifications
if there's anything
we need to take a look at.

If there's something
we need to work on,
we'll go work on it.

[Greg] Speaking of look at,
is there gonna be
any opportunity for me

to actually get on a rig

-and see these
things in action.
-For sure.

We're gonna send you
to meet Chase at Rig 918.

Sounds great.
Let's go meet Chase.

[Greg] You must be Chase.

Steven over at
the Remote Operation Center
said I would find you here

at FlexRig 918,
so here we are.

And what I really wanna find
out about from you, Chase,
is the C.A.R.E. program.

I know it's a big part
of your culture here.

That's right. As you can see
here at the rig site,

we have a complicated process
for material handling,

and actively caring
is at the core of what
we do here at H&P.

-So why don't we check it out?
-Sounds great.

So, Chase, I need you
to get specific with me.

Tell me exactly
what C.A.R.E. stands for.

So C.A.R.E. stands for
"controlling and
removing exposures."

And exposures are just
dangerous situations

that our employees
could find themselves in
here at the rig site.

[Greg] Okay,
so safety is a big part
of the H&P culture.

But I know that sustainability
is really important
to you as well.

Tell me more about that.

That's right.
You see our engines back here,

we have a product
called Engine Management

that helps us properly
load our engines

and make sure
they're running
at their peak performance.

That helps us provide
efficient outcomes
and also reduce our emissions.

-Great. Well, let's see how
this all works up on the rig.
-All right. Follow me.

After you.

So, Greg, here we are
in the driller's cabin here
at test Rig 918.

And it's really
our home base for innovation
in rig technology,

which are all things
like the HexGrip 120,
PDS Redzone.

So why don't we head up
to the rig floor
and check it out?

Let's go.

When I was on the drill deck,

Chase explained to me
how H&P is deploying a piece
of cutting-edge technology

with the HexGrip 120.

I asked him
what the process was like
before the HexGrip 120.

So making tubular connection
was a very manual, very
labor-intensive job years ago.

And what we've really tried
to do with the HexGrip 120

is evolve that process
for the next generation
of unconventional drilling.

-Has it made the whole process
easier and smoother?
-[Chase] It absolutely does.

And the HexGrip 120,
along with the Slip Lifter,

removes people
out of harm's way.

Right. Well, can
we head inside the,
uh, driller's shack

and see how
this whole process works
from a remote standpoint?

Sure. Let's take a look
at what the driller sees.

Chase, when I was
in the, uh, Remote
Operation Center,

Steven was showing me
on the screens

how you were drilling
down two miles curving,

and then heading out
two miles, heading
towards three miles.

How exactly does that relate
to what we're looking at here

in the screens
in the driller's cabin?

Yeah, so as we send
drill pipe down the hole,

we really need to know
what's going on down there.

Things like weight on bit,
pump pressure,

all things that are shown
on these screens here,

that the driller and
the remote operating center
can work together

and optimize
the best way to get
to the target formations.

[Greg] Maneuverability
and flexibility
are very important

for H&P's walking rig

which is designed
to move on its own using
hydraulic-powered legs.

The rig can move
distances up to 500 feet

without using heavy
transportation equipment

and saves time
by eliminating the need

to assemble and disassemble
critical components.

Hydraulic systems power
the walking legs

which was strategically placed
around the rig's structure

and they can be remotely
operated to adapt
to various terrains

including uneven surfaces
and inclines.

Now, even remote locations
that were previously
challenging to reach

are accessible,

opening up new possibilities
for exploration
and extraction.

There are many benefits
of walking rigs.

They enhance mobility,
reduce the need for extensive
transportation logistics,

and reduce downtime
because it can quickly move
to the next location.

This lowers cost
and increases productivity.

In addition to efficiency,

these rigs play
a vital role in
environmental sustainability.

They control
and monitor emissions,

and reduce
the need for conventional
transportation methods

like heavy-duty trucks,

reducing the carbon footprint
associated with
equipment movement.

H&P rigs are also
capable of using
high-line grid power.

During 2022, H&P ran
approximately 15 rigs
on high-line power,

which displaced roughly
5.8 million gallons
of diesel fuel,

equivalent to 59,000
metric tons of carbon
dioxide equivalent.

High-line powered rigs,
during 2022,

demonstrated a reduction in
emissions of approximately 45%

as compared to those
running diesel.

Let's see how rig equipment
is overhauled and built at
the FlexRig Machinery Center.

Well, I'm gonna head
over now because Wes
is gonna show me

how a HexGrip
is actually assembled.

Yeah, let's go
check out the facility.

[Greg]
When it comes to drilling,
if you wanna be sustainable,

there is a lot that companies
have to take
into consideration.

I'm talking with the experts
at H&P about their approach
to working with companies

to supply them
with the equipment
and technology needed

to maximize each step
of the drilling process.

-Hey, Wes.
-Hi, Greg. How are ya?

Doing great. Doing great.
So I just came
off the rig with Chase.

Got to see the HexGrip 120
in action.

And from what I understand,
you guys worked
with the developers

to put it all together,
and I'd love to see
one assembled.

Well, you're in
the right place.

-Let's start at the beginning.
-Okay.

So, Wes, this is
the beginning of the process.

-Walk me through
a typical assembly.
-Sure.

Once we've received
all the pieces
to begin a build,

they move
to the sub-assembly area.

We're here, we're working
on a torque wrench,

and they're doing
the hydraulic plumbing.

One they're finished
with that, it moves on
to the final assembly.

Let's go check that out.

Looking good here, Wes.
How far along in the assembly
process are we?

We're about 98%
complete with this tool.

Just finishing up
the last details,

putting on a few guards
and tightening the last bolts.

And then where will
it go off to from here?

Really, this machine
could go to any H&P rig

-and, uh, you know,
be put into service.
-[Greg] All right.

Now, I know that this
is pretty cutting-edge,
new technology here.

And a big thing about this
is that it's both,
more efficient and safer.

Yeah, so part of our
Actively C.A.R.E. program is,

you know, getting our people
away from danger.

This machine is operated
through a human-machine
interface or a touchscreen.

It puts the operator
at a distance
from the machine.

I know that a big part
of what H&P does

is, uh, maintain the equipment
that they already have
out in the field.

And you have a whole
facility that's dedicated
to refurbishing that.

I'd love to see
how that works.

Sure. It's a little bit
different process,
but let's go take a look.

[Greg] You know, Wes,
this kind of looks like
an equipment graveyard,

but it's really just
the first step in bringing
this gear back to life.

Yeah, this equipment
came from the rigs.

It's time for maintenance,
this is the start.

This is
a pipe delivery system.

You saw one of these
on the rig. It's just
beginning its process.

It's been washed once.

I can't wait to let you
see what it looks like
at the end.

Now, how long will this
take to be turned around?

It'll take a couple of months.

[Greg] So, just like
the pipe delivery system
we saw outside,

this has been through
an initial power wash.

But what happens to it next?

From here, we disassemble it
completely into
its individual pieces.

We shot-blast it,
inspect it, and then
the parts get a new paint job.

Is that shot blast
system nearby?

It's right around the corner.
Let's go have a look.

[Greg] Wow,
so this is what you use
to get all the paint off.

[Wes] Yeah,
it allows this to take
parts to the bare metal,

it allows us to give it
more accurate inspection.
It's a steel shot blast media.

The benefit of that is,
we can cycle out
the contaminants,

-and get more poiesis
out of this.
-Excellent.

Wow, Wes, this looks
like a brand-new
piece of machinery.

Now, I know we got ...
getting ready
to be disassembled

and it was gonna be
shot blasted and repainted.

But what else
has happened to it
to get it to this stage?

[Wes] Essentially,
we've put it back together.

All the pieces have gone
through the process,
we've looked at 'em

and deemed that they're good
to use again,

and then we've reassembled
the machine.

Now, I know
that these machines,

they go through this,
uh, refurbishing system
several times.

And they could end up
in the field in service
for many, many years.

But once you get
them out there,

-how could you possibly
know that they're safe?
-We test 'em.

-Well, where do you test them?
-[Wes] Right here.

[Wes] So here it is, Greg.

Here is
a pipe delivery system.

Remember the one
we looked at earlier?
This is the final result.

This is beautiful, Wes.

I mean, it looks like
a brand-new piece of gear

ready to be deployed
out into the field.

I mean, that's a good
couple of months' work.

-It is.
-[Greg] All right.

Well, Wes,
I've gotta get out of there
and back to Inventionland.

-Thank you.
It's been a great day.
-My pleasure.

[Chay] Hi, George, how are ya?

Hey, Chay,
welcome to Inventionland.

Thank you. Hey, I brought
you a couple gifts.

One is a pair of socks
with a drilling rig on it,

and the other is a little
miniature drilling rig
for your display case.

Oh, that's great!
The kids will like
that on tour.

Socks with a drilling rig?

All right, we like
that idea, too.

Well, hey, your team
sent me some images,
and I was curious.

I was thinking that this
is probably a drill running
down through the ground.

You're spot on right.
This is the visual
of a drill bit,

uh, removing rock
in the ground

so that we can create
that wellbore.

-Okay.
-What you see over here

are actually a manual mode,
and what we call AutoSlide,

which is a product that helps
us do that autonomously.

The analogy I would give
is, if you think
about a car, right,

you and I can drive that
manually, we can tell it
how fast or how slow to go,

and we can try
to keep that on the road,
within the lane.

But we're not as efficient
as some of the automation
that comes about

that can do that
in a tighter control.

Well, AutoSlide helps us
do that with the wellbore.

That's great technology.
I think I see it.

So it's keeping
the drill bit

in the lane
that you're targeting

when you're down
under the ground.

-Is that right?
-Spot on.

Great stuff.
How about this image
over here?

What's this one
trying to do for us?

Yeah, so going back
to the analogy,

we talked about the lane
and the car, right?

If you think about
this right here,
this is the plan

as we're trying to drill
about the wellbore.

So this is where
we wanna be,
and this is where we are.

Our product allows us
to try to take
that information

and as effectively
and efficiently as possible
get back within that lane.

So what I'm seeing is
that that green box

is kind of like the lane
that we're driving down.

And we wanna keep
that drill head inside
that driving lane, right?

That's correct. Yeah.
And what that allows us to do

is drill the most efficient
wellbore possible, right,

with the least ground
disturbance possible.

-Right? It's better
for everyone.
-Yeah.

That's great stuff.

How about
this image over here?
I got this one, too.

I was curious about it.

You know, the last image
was under the ground,

this one's above ground.
Is this on the platform?

That's correct, George.
This sits up on
what we call our drill floor.

This is called
an iron roughneck.

So this right here,
this pipe segment,

if you think about
going down that wellbore

and continuing to extend it
to go deeper and deeper,

-we have to add pipe
one on top of another.
-[George] Mm.

A little bit of history.
If we go back to the old way
it was done,

this drill pipe was made up
with spinning... What we call
spinning chains,

and it was very manual,
arduous process.

Then we moved to tongs,
which are big pipe wrenches.

We would spin it up

-and then we would
torque with those.
-Mm-hmm.

And then we moved
to what's called
an iron roughneck.

And the iron roughneck
predecessor to this,

with this latest
invention, the HexGrip,

we have automated this
and allowed the human being
to completely step away,

keeping them safe
and removing them
from exposures.

What a great invention!

-Well, Chay,
thanks for coming in.
-Hey, thank you, George.

"Drilling your socks off."

[chuckles softly]