Progress and development strategies of sliding and rotary directional drilling technology

The rotary directional drilling system has become one of the most important cutting-edge equipment in the field of oil and gas drilling engineering. Currently, the sliding directional drilling technology still occupies the main position in domestic directional/horizontal wells. The rotary directional drilling technology has been widely applied in foreign directional/horizontal wells, and is the core technology for achieving the development of digital and intelligent oil and gas drilling. This article compares and explains the principles and characteristics of sliding directional drilling and rotary directional drilling technology, systematically analyzes the progress and challenges faced by sliding directional drilling technology in China, compares and analyzes the progress of rotary directional drilling technology in China and abroad, and proposes the development direction and implementation path of rotary directional drilling technology in China. Research suggests that with the development of oil and gas exploration and development towards deeper and more complex environments, the space for potential exploration and improvement of sliding directional drilling technology is limited. Foreign intelligent directional drilling technology has developed to the third generation of products, and domestic efforts need to accelerate the iterative upgrading and widespread application of rotary directional drilling technology. Development suggestions: Strengthen basic research on downhole closed-loop control and measurement data transmission while drilling, optimize and tackle the bias method, measurement control method, and downhole power source driving method of rotary steering tools, build and improve the software system of intelligent control closed-loop underground, two-way communication underground and ground, and remote monitoring of the well site headquarters, which is interconnected and complementary, accelerate the transformation of China's drilling method from sliding steering drilling technology to rotary steering drilling technology, and promote the "revolution" of deep, deep, and unconventional oil and gas in China.