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Harnessing the Power of Remote Operations Centers for Efficiency and Savings

Remote operations in all industries have become more common in the last few years — from healthcare to education, and of course to oil and gas. A decade ago, managing a drilling operation from hundreds of miles away would seem impossible. However, with the right technology, processes, and people, it’s more than possible — it’s the direction the industry is moving in today.

While some clients hesitate to embrace remote operations simply because they are unfamiliar with them, those who understand the cost savings and additional value a remote operations center (ROC) brings to the project never look back to doing things the conventional way. Within just a few weeks, they realize how valuable a remote operations center is and how much money it can save them in the long run.

ProDirectional is a leader in remote operations, having completed over 30,000 remote tours with a group of highly trained remote operations specialists. And while we certainly save our clients thousands of dollars on each project, it’s in a different way than you might expect.

coring remote ops

Going beyond predictable cost savings

You may expect that the main way to reduce costs for the client with a remote operations center is by minimizing the number of personnel on site. As a result, you have a lower day rate and a lower cost of service delivery. All of this is true — by having a remote operations center we are able to reduce the day rate and cost of service delivery for our clients. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to cost savings.

At ProDirectional, we’re never satisfied with the status quo, and are always looking for ways to go above and beyond for our clients. We know that the only way we can succeed is when our clients succeed. This is why the main way we offer cost savings for our clients through a remote operations center is with value creation. 

Adding value through expertise

Our remote operations center is manned by our team of remote operations specialists, all of whom have considerable experience working on rigs. We have a central location for our remote operations at our headquarters, where we also have our directional and MWD coordinators, technical services team, and engineers, all of whom act as resources for our remote operations team. 

Instead of having just one person at the rig, our clients have this exceptional team of professionals available to troubleshoot any type of problem that occurs. We can escalate the issue quickly to the required experts, gather the information we need to solve the problem, and implement the solution within minutes. This simply isn’t possible without a remote operations center in place. 

Having so many eyes available to look at the issue provides a wealth of expertise and experience. We even had a situation where the pressure signature being generated by the rig pumps resulted in all the standard filtering protocols being ineffective for decoding. In this situation, our remote operations team engaged with the right resources to get a custom filter written into code and deployed it quickly in real time in order to decode the data at the surface and communicate with the tools downhole. If our client didn’t have remote operations expertise available to them, this problem would have taken days to solve, resulting in non-productive time (NPT).

What is all of this expertise worth to our clients? While it’s hard to put a dollar amount on it, most would agree it’s in the tens of thousands of dollars at least — especially when you consider the amount of NPT we’re able to help our clients eliminate. 

Ensuring we support you 24/7/365

At ProDirectional, we understand that our clients’ drilling operations run 24/7/365. That’s why our remote operations center runs 24/7/365 as well — and we don’t stop for anything. It’s a mission critical service, which is why we have built in multiple layers of redundancies, both at the center and at the rig, to ensure our support continues no matter what situation we’re in.

Our ROC has a built-in power system redundancy, three levels of communication backups, a detailed disaster recovery plan, and extreme weather event protocols. In addition, we have redundancies at the rig as well, ensuring we never lose communication between the center and the wellsite. 

Not only that, but all of our remote operations specialists also have a full setup at home, so if there is ever a situation where they are unable to come into the center, they can connect from home to provide client support. Our communication platform is proprietary technology we have built for this purpose, and it can be used from anywhere to connect to the rig.

As a result of these redundancies, we have an impeccable record for delivering our remote operations service. There is no situation in which we cannot connect to the rig. The cost of total peace of mind? We think most would agree it’s priceless.

Man in remote operations standing in front of many monitors

Our Remote Operations Center is at your service

While we have a robust remote operations center, we also have personnel in the field to support changing out downhole and surface equipment when necessary. However, when it comes to major troubleshooting, our remote operations center can handle anything that comes their way — operating in this way is second nature to us after tens of thousands of tours.

Our remote operations center can completely change the trajectory of your project, eliminate NPT, and ensure any issues are resolved immediately. Get in touch with us today to discuss how the remote operations center can benefit your project.

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Recent Articles

drilling efficiency

Beating the AFE: 3.56 Days Saved in Drilling Efficiency

The numbers tell a compelling story, but they don’t capture the 2 AM phone calls that didn’t happen. They don’t show the stress that wasn’t there when your completion crew showed up on schedule. They don’t quantify the confidence you felt when presenting your drilling performance to management.

Over five years of Permian drilling data, one program consistently evolved from 12.97 days average in 2021 to 9.41 days in 2025—while drilling 500+ feet longer laterals. That’s 3.56 days saved per well, representing $142,400 in cost avoidance at current rig rates. For a 60-well annual program, that translates to $8.5 million in savings.

But here’s what those numbers really represent: the difference between managing drilling operations and worrying about them.

The Reality of Drilling Engineering Accountability

Every drilling engineer knows the feeling. You’ve submitted your AFE, justified every line item, and now you’re watching the clock and the cost tracker. Your reputation isn’t just tied to hitting geological targets, it’s tied to delivering wells on time, on budget, and on specification. The completion crews are scheduled, management expects results, and there’s virtually no room for error.

At ProDirectional, we understand that your AFE performance directly impacts your professional success. When drilling programs consistently deliver results, everyone benefits.

Beyond the Technology: Partnership in Performance

Advanced MWD systems and rotary steerable technology are table stakes in today’s drilling environment. What separates consistent performance from intermittent success is the operational framework that surrounds the technology. Our remote operations center doesn’t just monitor drilling parameters, it connects field teams with real-time engineering expertise to prevent problems before they become non-productive time.

When our tools come back from the field, our engineers inspect every component, analyze wear patterns, and use that data to continuously improve equipment reliability. This isn’t theoretical engineering, it’s practical problem-solving based on actual field conditions and performance requirements.

But technology and engineering capability only matter if they translate to predictable results for drilling programs.

What Client Success Actually Looks Like

Client success for us means one thing: we don’t want you to have to worry about your well. When you contract ProDirectional for directional drilling services, our objective is straightforward—show up on location, place that well exactly where it needs to be, and deliver the kind of reliable performance that lets you focus on optimizing your drilling program rather than managing drilling problems.

The 3.56 days of time savings in that Permian data set represents more than cost avoidance. It represents schedule predictability that allows completion operations to run efficiently. It represents the confidence that comes from consistent performance across multiple wells and multiple years.

Most importantly, it represents the peace of mind that comes from working with a directional drilling provider who understands that your AFE performance directly impacts your professional success.

The Partnership You Need

Drilling is a 24/7, 365-day business, and the pressure on drilling engineers and managers is constant. Equipment failures, geological surprises, and operational challenges don’t respect normal business hours. The last thing you need is uncertainty about whether your directional drilling provider is going to deliver.

Everything we do, from in-house technology development to our approach to field operations, is focused on eliminating non-productive time and delivering reliable, repeatable performance. Our remote operations center provides real-time support that connects field expertise with engineering resources, ensuring that problems get solved quickly and efficiently.

Client success is our first cultural value because it’s the foundation of sustainable business relationships. When drilling engineers and managers build track records of consistent AFE performance, they drill more wells. When they drill more wells, we all succeed.

It’s Us vs. Your AFE

That five-year performance evolution in the Permian didn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of continuous focus on the metrics that matter most to drilling operations: time, cost, and reliability. Every decision we make is evaluated against one question: does this help our clients beat their AFE?

The data shows what’s possible when directional drilling becomes a strategic advantage rather than just a service requirement. But the real measure of success isn’t in the spreadsheets—it’s in the confidence drilling engineers have when they present their drilling programs to management, knowing they’ve partnered with a provider who shares their accountability for results.

Ready to build this kind of track record for your drilling program? Let’s discuss how ProDirectional can help you turn drilling efficiency from a goal into a competitive advantage.

Ready to build this kind of track record for your drilling program? Let’s discuss how ProDirectional can help you turn drilling efficiency from a goal into a competitive advantage.

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RSS expertise

ProDirectional’s RSS Expertise: Proven Drilling Performance

When operators decide to deploy Rotary Steerable Systems (RSS), they need a directional drilling partner who can execute flawlessly. The technology is only as effective as the team running it, and the integration between RSS tools and measurement systems determines whether your investment delivers the expected performance.

At ProDirectional, we’ve built our reputation on maximizing RSS performance through strategic integration, expert execution, and the kind of operational excellence that turns advanced technology into measurable results.

When RSS Deployment Matters Most

RSS technology has become the go-to solution for extended-reach drilling, complex trajectories, and high-performance applications where continuous rotation and precise steering control are essential. But having access to RSS tools is just the starting point—the real value comes from teams who understand how to optimize these systems for your specific drilling objectives.

Recent RSS Performance Highlights:

Upton County Achievement
When our client chose RSS for their 3-mile lateral, we delivered 156-hour completion time through seamless tool integration and expert field execution.

Reagan County Success
On an 18,423-foot lateral using RSS technology, we completed the well in a single run, saving the operator multiple days of rig time and demonstrating the reliability that comes from proven RSS experience.

These results showcase what happens when RSS technology meets operational expertise—consistent performance that protects AFE budgets and keeps drilling programs on schedule.

Our RSS Integration Capabilities

ProDirectional’s value in RSS applications comes from our comprehensive approach to tool integration and field execution:

Seamless MWD Integration
Our Sprint, Octane, and OctaneXT MWD platforms integrate seamlessly with major RSS systems including DTech rotary steerable tools. Through innovations like BabelFish connectivity and compatibility with systems such as Orbit and NeoSteer, we ensure uninterrupted data flow between RSS tools and surface operations.

Application Engineering Support
RSS deployments generate massive amounts of real-time data. Our application engineers translate this information into actionable insights, ensuring steering decisions, trajectory adjustments, and operational parameters are optimized throughout the drilling process.

Custom BHA Design
Each RSS application has unique torque, pressure, and trajectory requirements. We design bottom hole assemblies specifically tailored to maximize RSS performance for your wellbore objectives and formation conditions.

Field Expertise That Delivers
Our field teams bring extensive experience with RSS operations across major basins. They understand the nuances of RSS deployment, from initial setup through lateral completion, ensuring your technology investment delivers expected results.

Why RSS Integration Expertise Matters

The difference between good RSS performance and exceptional RSS performance lies in execution details:

Real-Time Decision Making
RSS operations require constant optimization based on downhole conditions, drilling parameters, and trajectory requirements. Our teams understand how to interpret RSS data and make adjustments that maintain performance throughout the drilling process.

System Compatibility
RSS tools must work seamlessly with directional sensors, MWD systems, and surface equipment. We’ve developed proven integration protocols that eliminate communication delays and data interruptions.

Formation-Specific Optimization
RSS performance varies significantly based on formation characteristics, drilling fluid properties, and wellbore conditions. Our experience across diverse geological environments enables us to optimize RSS deployment for your specific drilling challenges.

The ProDirectional Advantage in RSS Applications

When operators choose RSS for their drilling programs, they’re making a significant technology investment. Our role is ensuring that investment delivers maximum value through:

Proven Track Record
Our RSS performance across the Permian Basin and other major plays demonstrates consistent execution that protects AFE budgets and maintains drilling schedules.

Technical Integration
We’ve developed the systems, processes, and expertise needed to optimize RSS performance in real-world drilling conditions.

Operational Reliability
Our teams understand that RSS deployments often represent critical wells in drilling programs. We deliver the reliability and consistency that these high-stakes applications demand.

Continuous Improvement
Every RSS run provides data that improves future performance. Our application engineering team analyzes this information to refine procedures, optimize parameters, and enhance overall RSS effectiveness.

Ready for Your Next RSS Application?

RSS technology offers significant advantages for extended-reach drilling, complex trajectories, and high-performance applications. But realizing these advantages requires a directional drilling partner with the integration expertise, field experience, and operational excellence to maximize RSS performance.

From Upton County to Reagan County, our RSS track record demonstrates the kind of consistent execution that turns advanced technology into AFE protection and drilling program success.

When you’re ready to deploy RSS, are you confident in your directional drilling partner?

Contact ProDirectional to discuss how our RSS integration expertise can optimize your next rotary steerable application. Because when it comes to RSS performance, execution makes all the difference.

It’s us vs. your AFE—and RSS expertise that delivers results.

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best value directional drilling

Why Best Value Directional Drilling Outperforms Low Price

In the directional drilling industry, the relationship between cost and value is often misunderstood. While procurement teams naturally gravitate toward the lowest bid, experienced operators know that the cheapest solution rarely delivers the best economics. This reality has shaped our approach at ProDirectional, where we’ve made a strategic decision to prioritize value over price—and the results speak for themselves.

The Hidden Cost of Going Cheap

When evaluating directional drilling services, it’s tempting to focus solely on the line item cost. After all, in an industry where margins matter and efficiency is king, saving money seems like an obvious win. However, this surface-level analysis often misses the bigger picture.

The true cost of a well extends far beyond the initial service price. It encompasses:

  • Operational delays: When equipment fails or performance lags, every hour of non-productive time compounds costs exponentially
  • Quality compromises: Subpar wellbore quality can lead to production challenges, requiring expensive remediation
  • Hidden inefficiencies: Poor service can create cascading problems that affect drilling speed, accuracy, and ultimately, well economics
  • Risk exposure: Cutting corners on service quality increases the likelihood of costly incidents and complications

These hidden costs don’t appear in the initial bid comparison, but they inevitably show up in the final well cost calculation.

Performance That Pays for Itself

At ProDirectional, we’ve taken a different approach. Instead of competing on price alone, we’ve focused on consistently delivering top-quartile performance—specifically, operating in the top 25% of industry benchmarks. This commitment to excellence comes at a competitive, though not bargain-basement, price point.

Why does this matter to our clients? Because superior performance translates directly to:

  1. Faster well delivery: When tools work reliably and teams perform efficiently, wells reach total depth sooner
  2. Reduced non-productive time: Quality equipment and experienced personnel minimize costly downtime
  3. Better wellbore quality: Precision drilling reduces the need for corrections and improves production potential
  4. Predictable outcomes: Consistent performance enables better planning and resource allocation

The Mathematics of Value

Consider a typical directional drilling project. If a lower-cost provider saves $20,000 on the initial bid but causes twenty hours of additional rig time over the course of the well due to equipment issues or performance problems, the “savings” quickly evaporate. With modern rig rates and associated costs, that extra time can easily exceed $85,000—turning a perceived saving into a significant loss.

This is where our value proposition becomes clear. By investing in:

  • Premium equipment maintenance
  • Experienced personnel
  • Robust quality control systems
  • Continuous innovation

We deliver reliability and performance that more than offset our competitive pricing. The result? Lower total well costs for our clients, despite not being the cheapest option on paper.

A Partnership Approach

Our focus on value over price reflects a fundamental belief: we’re not just service providers, we’re partners in our clients’ success. This means:

  • Understanding that every decision impacts the bottom line
  • Recognizing that our performance directly affects our clients’ economics
  • Committing to solutions that optimize total well cost, not just our service fee

This partnership mentality drives us to continuously improve our service delivery, invest in new technologies, and maintain the highest standards of operational excellence.

The Long-Term Perspective

In an industry where relationships often span decades, the value-over-price approach creates lasting benefits. Clients who initially choose us for our performance often become long-term partners who appreciate:

  • Predictable, reliable service delivery
  • Consistent cost performance across projects
  • A track record of continuous improvement
  • True partnership in pursuing operational excellence

Making the Right Choice

When evaluating directional drilling services, we encourage operators to look beyond the bid sheet. Consider:

  • Historical performance metrics
  • Equipment reliability records
  • Personnel experience and retention rates
  • Innovation capabilities
  • Overall impact on well economics

The evidence consistently shows that investing in quality service delivery reduces total well costs. It’s a simple equation: better performance, fewer problems, faster delivery, and lower total cost.

Conclusion

In directional drilling, as in many technical services, the adage “you get what you pay for” holds particularly true. While we respect every operator’s need to manage costs, we’ve found that the most successful companies take a holistic view of value.

We’ve built our reputation not on being the cheapest, but on being the best value. By consistently delivering top-quartile performance at competitive prices, we help our clients achieve their most important goal: delivering wells efficiently and economically.

Because in this industry, the cheapest option often comes with the highest price tag—and our clients deserve better than that.

To learn more about how our value-based approach can benefit your drilling operations, contact our team for a detailed discussion of your specific needs.

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