Technology
Huisman has signed a contract with the offshore drilling contractor Seadrill for the delivery of an AS605X Auto Slip system, marking another step towards greater automation of the drill floor.
This technology will support Seadrill’s drilling operations by reducing personnel exposure in the red zone, thereby improving safety, efficiency, and operational consistency.
The AS605X Auto Slip system automates the handling of drill pipe slips, thereby reducing the need for manual intervention during critical drilling operations.
Its design enables faster and more consistent handling of slips and supports smoother activity on the drill floor in challenging offshore conditions.
It is expected to reduce well construction interferences by up to 2.5 days per typical 60-day well by eliminating insert changes, enabling the uninterrupted passage of drilling tools and facilitating rapid opening and closing sequences. It also allows for the safe closing of pipes in rolling and pitching offshore conditions.
Additionally, the Huisman Auto Slip system integrates seamlessly with existing rig control systems, enabling straightforward implementation and supporting the industry’s growing emphasis on automation and operational consistency.
John Dady, Seadrill’s Director of Rig Innovation and Technology, said: ‘We are excited to be working with Huisman to deploy these new power slips and to test their ability to deliver safety and performance. These slips have the potential to drastically reduce human exposure in the red zone, as well as provide impressive performance gains. This aligns well with our relentless drive to consistently deliver safe, efficient, and reliable operations.”
The key feature that sets the AS605X apart is its roller-based clamping technology, patented by Huisman. This technology operates at the optimum point between pipe slipping and pipe crushing. This enables the system to handle extreme loads of up to 1,130 mt while maintaining the integrity of the tubulars.
The Auto Slip features a large, stepless clamping range, enabling the handling of a complete drill string — including bottom hole assemblies, stabilisers, and centralisers — without the need to change inserts. The system can clamp tubulars ranging from 5″ to 9.5″ in diameter and open up to 19″, thus eliminating the need for manual intervention during critical drilling operations.
