Presenter
Mathias Horstmann from SLB
Abstract
At-bit imaging (ABI) technology represents a breakthrough in Logging While Drilling (LWD) by enabling high-resolution borehole imaging directly at the drill bit face. For the energy industry, it addresses ongoing challenges in subsurface characterization and reservoir development, especially as operators face increasingly complex well architectures and geological environments. Conventional LWD and wireline imaging tools are limited in resolution, sensitivity to well conditions, and their distance from the bit, which often results in delayed or lower quality formation data. ABI technology captures millimeter-scale geological detail during drilling, including fractures, thin beds, and lithology changes, independent of mud type or borehole size. This capability is highly relevant for operators, who seek innovative, practical solutions for improving well placement, formation evaluation, and operational efficiency. By eliminating the need for separate imaging runs, ABI reduces non-productive time (NPT) and supports decision making, directly impacting drilling performance, reservoir understanding, and project economics. ABI results show strong regressions to rock physics properties and can be used as input in mechanical earth models.
At-bit imaging creates value by integrating robust strain sensors within performance PDC drill bits to continuously measure forces as the bit engages with the formation. This disruptive technology delivers industry-leading borehole image resolution, supporting detailed geological interpretation and geomechanical analysis. Its independence from mud properties and hole size streamlines operations in both conventional and unconventional wells at all depth and trajectories. Practical field deployments have demonstrated measurable improvement in identifying structural features, optimizing well placement, and reducing intervention times. Lessons learned emphasize the importance of sensor ruggedness, seamless integration into drilling workflows, and post-run data processing for actionable insights. Compared to legacy methods, ABI delivers performance gains by reducing costs and enhancing the quality of subsurface data.
Presentation introduces the ABI technology platform—including its at-bit strain imaging architecture, sensor design, and post-drilling data processing workflow. Attendees will see high-resolution borehole images produced during drilling on the NCS, with image and log overlays showcasing the system’s ability to capture many geological features in fine scale. Real-world deployment examples will be shared, supported by quantified metrics on resolution, operational efficiency, and formation interpretation. The session will offer visual demonstrations—images close to virtual core representations, and logs—from recent field projects to illustrate the technology’s disruptive impact. We show initial regressions to rock properties and the correlation in mechanical earth models. All together the content offers both technical depth and practical case studies while emphasizing measurable value and innovation through world’s first at-bit high resolution imaging.
Supporting document (download from Google Drive)
Biography
Mathias Horstmann is principal domain expert for petrophysics, geology and acoustics with SLB, supporting the NCS in the Europe and Africa region located in Stavanger. After working for a period in the mining industry, he joined SLB in 2002 as a field engineer in Europe and Africa. He then worked in management positions and held various petro-technical roles in formation evaluation and geosteering in Asia and Europe. Mathias holds a MS in geology from the EUCOR University of Freiburg, Germany. Within the Society of Petrophysicists and Well Log Analysts (SPWLA), where he published several technical papers, Mathias served recently as its Regional Director for Europe. He was also the General Chairman of the 63rd global formation evaluation symposium in Stavanger 2022. He is past president of the Norwegian Formation Evaluation Society (NFES) in which he held offices between 2012-2023 and is also member of the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE) and Oberrheinischer Geologischer Verein (OGV).