Motorized Magnus® RSS Delivers First Geothermal Well in Vienna Basin, Enhances Operational Efficiency, Reduces NPT in Support of Development Strategy

Drill three directional geothermal wells in Vienna, Austria, targeting the Aderklaa Conglomerate formation.
Key challenges included:
- Navigating shallow, unconsolidated gravel layers with extended tangent sections at inclinations up to 50°
- Achieving effective hole cleaning while using low-viscosity drilling fluids
- Mitigating surface noise interference in an urban environment
- Drilling and logging the target formation to ensure reservoir evaluation.

Weatherford deployed a motorized Magnus rotary steerable system (RSS) to meet directional drilling objectives while minimizing surface noise in the urban environment. The motorized configuration enabled higher downhole RPM for efficient drilling performance, while maintaining low surface RPM to reduce acoustic impact. The Magnus RSS provided precise directional control from kickoff through the build section and ensured consistent trajectory across extended tangent intervals.
In the first well, unanticipated gravel zones generated high vibration levels, resulting in premature wear on the bottomhole assembly (BHA) components and drill bit damage. To address this, a comprehensive driller’s roadmap was developed for the remaining wells to proactively manage vibration during drilling and tripping operations. A check-trip strategy was also introduced during long hold sections to improve hole cleaning and facilitate effective cuttings removal at planned intervals.
For formation evaluation of the Aderklaa Conglomerate at high inclination, Weatherford field personnel deployed the MFR^® propagation resistivity tool, the AZD^® azimuthal density tool, and the TNP™ thermal neutron porosity LWD tool within the same motorized RSS configuration. This enabled high-quality data acquisition in a single run, even under challenging high-angle conditions.

By deploying a motorized Magnus RSS to drill complex directional intervals in this basin for the first time, the operator marked a key milestone in geothermal drilling performance. All three well profiles were delivered according to plan, with no premature trips for tool failures throughout the campaign.
A personalized driller’s roadmap, developed in response to challenges encountered on the first well, enabled safe and efficient drilling operations with no unscheduled events in the subsequent wells. Full coverage logging of the Aderklaa Conglomerate was achieved using LWD tools integrated within the motorized BHA, ensuring high-quality formation evaluation in a single pass.
This integrated solution enhanced operational efficiency, reduced nonproductive time (NPT), and delivered critical formation insights to support the operator’s geothermal development strategy.

Details

Location

Vienna, Austria

Well Type

Geothermal

Hole Size and Angle

12 1/4 and 8 1/2 in.
52° inclination
9,481 ft (2,890 m) tangent

Products/Services

Area of interest

First Name

Last Name

Phone

Email

Company

Country

Region

Message

Marketing

Tick to subscribe Weatherford newsletter

Motorized Magnus^® RSS