Historically, IRIS' full-scale test rig, Ullrigg, located in Stavanger, has been an important facility both nationally and internationally for development and qualification of new technology and new drilling methods. With OpenLab, IRIS takes one step further with the establishment of a unique research infrastructure utilizing powerful data resources for development and testing of future drilling and well technology. OpenLab employs the worlds most advanced simulation models to replicate the physical processes during drilling and well operations.
Technology development for drilling and well has been dominated by improved machine control and mechanization of operations at the drill floor. Today, there is a change towards more data driven operations where the condition of the well and the quality of the drilling process itself is taken more into consideration. This is to secure more cost efficient and safer drilling operations. This change requires new technology and new work processes which exploit data from the rig and the well, often in real time, to monitor and control the process. Such technology requires testing in realistic environments and as early as possible in the development phase. This is important to secure that the end product is of good quality and to reduce the time from idea to product.
OpenLab will become important for research communities working on improvement of methods and technology for safer and more cost efficient drilling and well operations. In addition, OpenLab will enable realistic simulated scenarios necessary to practice on critical incidents, and to study changes in organization and work processes when new technology is implemented.
OpenLab has been available since the end of 2018. Read more on openlab.app and watch the movie on https://youtu.be/kLdD4EuClEc