Page 38: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Jan/Feb 2026)

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DRILLING MANAGING DOWNHOLE VIBRATION © MR.Zanis / Adobe Stock

FROM REACTIVE TO

PROACTIVE:

Managing Downhole

Vibration in Complex Wells

As offshore wells grow deeper, hotter and mechanically more complex, drilling systems are operating closer to their structural limits than ever before.

In this environment, torque, drag and vibration are no longer secondary technical considerations - they are central to performance, reliability and well economics. Recognizing the increasing operational and economic impact of downhole vibration, Neo Oiltools was founded in Luxembourg in October 2014 to develop a dedicated torque management solution.

By Amir Garanovic, Managing Editor at Offshore Engineer eo Oiltools’ downhole torque manage- In an interview for Offshore Engineer, Guy Feasey, Glob- ment tool, Neotork, manages torque gen- al Business & Operations Advisor at Neo Oiltools, said that erated by the drill bit while mitigating all addressing torque at source is becoming increasingly im- four types of vibrations that can be encoun- portant as well designs push operational boundaries.

tered, protecting critical downhole equip- “Offshore operators increasingly face a critical challenge.

N ment. According to the company, the tool’s simple, unique Downhole vibration, once an acceptable byproduct of drill- design automatically controls downhole torque. When ing, is now a focus of drilling optimization experts search- torque exceeds a preset limit, the tool contracts to reduce ing for any root cause impacting drilling performance, the bit depth of cut. The excess torque stored in the system project economics, and equipment reliability,” said Feasey.

is slowly released as the drilling structure drills off. According to Feasey, the shift is driven by the evolution 38 OFFSHORE ENGINEER OEDIGITAL.COM