Research for the Market: Establishing Mechanisms for Two-Way Exchange

Dr. Zhang Xianbin joined Bohai Drilling's Postdoctoral Research Station in 2011 and signed an employment contract with the company upon completing his postdoctoral studies in 2014. When discussing the Drilling Fluid R&D Center, his insights are particularly profound: market demand dictates research direction. His team spearheaded the “Ten Major Additives Project,” achieving industrial-scale production of seven products within a year, followed by rapid field testing and deployment. This success brought immense satisfaction to Zhang Xianbin and his colleagues.

　　The Drilling Fluid R&D Center serves as a talent hub for Bohai Drilling's Mud Company. Maximizing the potential of each researcher is crucial for technological innovation capabilities, strategic market expansion, and ultimately, the company's developmental trajectory.

　　To ensure every talent is utilized effectively, Bohai Drilling Mud Company established a comprehensive system encompassing standardized experimental procedures, mechanisms for enhancing researcher competencies, and frameworks for translating research outcomes into practical applications. All personnel entering the R&D Center undergo pre-employment training to master foundational knowledge including experimental workflows, safety protocols, and treatment agent properties. Through standardized formulations and operational procedures, each researcher achieves rapid professional growth. To maximize the motivation of R&D personnel, the company has strengthened incentive mechanisms, established scientific management systems, and rewards project teams with outstanding results. A crucial aspect of training is shifting mindsets—making R&D personnel understand that project research is not the end goal, and shelving achievements is the greatest waste. The ultimate objective of the Drilling Fluid R&D Center is the transformation and application of results, ultimately turning them into productive forces.

　　R&D serves field operations, while field operations drive scientific advancement. The center innovatively implements a “grand research” model where “white coats” (researchers) and “red overalls” (field engineers) collaborate. Researchers bring their findings to the field to validate results, while mud engineers bring operational challenges to the lab to test formulations best suited for construction needs. This two-way exchange fosters effective integration between research and field practice, significantly accelerating the pace of results conversion. An innovative R&D data collection system was developed. Researchers input experimental data into the system, enabling project members to “share data with a single click.” Different access permissions are assigned to relevant personnel, effectively preventing leaks while significantly boosting R&D efficiency.

Research Adapting to Market Needs: Understanding Demands and Continuous Optimization

　　In recent years, Bohai Drilling Mud Company has successively developed three high-end drilling fluid systems: BH-WEI, BH-OBM, and BH-KSM. These systems have been applied in nearly 300 wells across more than 10 domestic and international oil and gas fields, resolving over 10 technical challenges in foreland wells, complex structural wells, and difficult wells, generating revenue of 563 million yuan. Among these, the BH-WEI and BH-OBM drilling fluid systems have successfully passed appraisal by the parent company.

　　Like a boat against the current, progress is essential to avoid regression. To remain competitive in the market, continuous project refinement and upgrading are essential. In recent years, the R&D Center has successively optimized and upgraded the three drilling fluid systems. Collaborating with technical departments, it has conducted research and analysis to develop 11 construction technology templates tailored to different systems and blocks. During construction, the formulation ratios, addition sequences, and performance data have been continuously optimized to better meet operational requirements.

　　During the development of high-temperature oil-based drilling fluid additives, field application results consistently fell short of expectations. Six or seven well mud samples were tested without success. Zhang Kun, a master's graduate from Nankai University, collaborated with mud engineers to identify the root cause and refine the experimental process. By the end of 2014, they successfully completed laboratory testing. Test results demonstrated that this product matched the performance of comparable foreign products. This marked another successful mastery of core technology for a high-end product by the mud company. In July 2015, Zhang Kun immersed himself in the production workshop, working continuously for two months in a 45°C environment. Ultimately, 300 tons of oil-based emulsifiers were produced, all meeting quality standards.

　　Furthermore, the Mud Company proactively adapted to market demands, actively sought cutting-edge market intelligence, and continuously enhanced its industrial chain. It successively upgraded and transformed projects such as leak-sealing technology and drilling fluid harmless treatment technology.