SLB launches OnWave autonomous logging platform

SLB has introduced the OnWave autonomous logging platform, which has already been deployed successfully in the Middle East and could potentially revolutionise formation evaluation

The first-of-its-kind technology enables more efficient and reliable acquisition of formation evaluation measurements in any well condition — even in historically challenging tight gas and unconventional reservoirs — autonomously acquiring multiple, high-fidelity measurements downhole, without the need of a wireline unit, and wireline cable. Its cable-free design takes less than half the time to deploy compared with conventional wireline platforms, while enabling drill pipe rotation and mud circulation during logging operations, to enhance well safety and minimise stuck pipe events.

The OnWave platform executes tasks downhole that would typically be performed manually by engineers at surface, including borehole measurement acquisition and data quality checks. It also verifies the tool’s position and functionality downhole through constant communication with surface, assuring confidence in the data acquisition quality and avoiding remedial logging runs.

The acquired data is streamed to the SLB collaborative cloud, where it undergoes intelligent processing and interpretation. This data can be viewed on demand, for real-time insights and informed decision making.

OnWave has been deployed successfully across different regions, including in the USA and Middle East, demonstrating significant efficiency gains in complex well trajectories. In South Texas, the platform reduced the landing time to total depth of the well from hours to just 27 minutes — a 70% reduction compared with conventional deployment techniques. Processing of the measurements at surface provided high‑quality integrated petrophysics and acoustic insights, enabling the E&P operator to improve the stimulation and completion designs and derisk asset field development.

“The OnWave platform marks the beginning of a new era in formation evaluation,” said Frederik Majkut, president of Reservoir Performance, SLB. “By streamlining how we gather high-fidelity measurements downhole, we are opening up key opportunities for our customers to integrate data-driven decision making into their workflows across the well life cycle — from exploration through to production and recovery.”