What are the best strategies for adapting to changes in the drilling supply chain?

In my experience in the geothermal sector, I have learned to appreciate collaboration with suppliers and establish long-term relationships based on trust, transparency, and mutual benefit. By collaborating with suppliers, we can improve our communication, alignment, and coordination of activities, as well as reduce costs, risks, and uncertainties.

From Nigeria perspective, especially in the light of the promotion of local content in drilling supply chain, it is most logical and imperative to invest in local contractors for near term and future peace of mind. In addition, ensuring continuity in supply is a collaborative effort of all the parties in the supply chain. Therefore, suppliers must be seen and accepted as partners in progress, working together for the fulfilment of common goals.

Drilling industry works in 24x7 and has demanding supply chain process. Once Rig is down company becuase of spares which cost few 100 $ and company is loosing days $$k . To metigate the situation we need vendor who can understand the Industry to do some extrat solve the issue. Having Supplier knows your Rig Stack and brands always help them in arranging things. I have seen many time vendor arranged spares from another drilling company as they supplied and know its being used. In every business supplier is Key but in drilling industry supplier is Lock and Key both..If you dont have a supplier who can go extramile then you are "Locked" but if you have good relation Same supplier become "Key" to solve your problme.

When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted organizations around the world, supply chain professionals faced a situation they had never experienced before. From that incidence, some companies devised a means to go about their business and that's where adoption of new technologies came into the limelight. It can be summed up into the following strategies below: 1. Adoption of the trending technologies i.e. AI, Machine learning in our system. 2. Cutting Costs & Consolidation. 3. Collaboration (Vertical Integration) 4. Advanced services to value. 5. Adequate training of personnel (Talents) 6. Blockchain solutions that can streamline processes by enabling a free flow of information, inventory and financials among all supply chain partners.

In geothermal drilling, embracing digitalization and using data-driven solutions has enhanced our decision-making, planning, and execution. By using digital tools, such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain, we have improved our visibility, agility, and responsiveness across the drilling supply chain.

People always misunderstand Digitalization(DG). Before we get into DG better to figure out waste ( Time, Money and resoure ) which DG can solve. The most worst senario for Drilling Contractor is shutdown because of Spares. Now using IOT and Maintenance data we can training Models which can predict how soon equipment will down and break. We need figure out whats is comming so we can prepare it. DG requires in detail planning, Data Indentification and then collarbate with technologies to give desire result. It will require also explain Technical experts , technology is here to help and get best out of it..not to go behind and let technology fail. We adopted Cell phone and we know we dont need 24x7 but we do..

Diversification of our sources and avoiding over-reliance on a single supplier, region, or mode of transportation assist in adapting to changes in the drilling supply chain.

Not to mention your inability to stay on the cutting edge of new technology. Staying with one, two or three suppliers keeps you on top.

Implementing lean principles and eliminating any non-value-adding activities, processes, or resources from your drilling operations is critical in adapting to changes in the drilling supply chain. In geothermal, we have been able to reduce costs, inventory, lead times, and the environmental impact of drilling operations.

Investing in innovation and exploring new technologies, methods, or practices that can improve your drilling performance and competitiveness is paramount in the geothermal drilling supply chain.

Innovation is Key for any process, During my experience I always thought to come up web-based Drilling Industry Supply Line. Ex Saudi arbaia has 5 Drilling contractor and having all togather 50 Rigs. Every DC can upload major material Ex Top Drive specs and using API Live Spare part availablity. if any of Contractor got shutdown becuase of Top they look for spare within the country DG portal if they found they can request for. Using this process we can aviod shutdown and meal contract can order material and once its arrived it will given to the One who loanded material. We need to collabrate using technology rather than compete. Yes we compete each other in Bidding then we are avaialne to help each other.

Technology is improving supply chains by giving companies greater visibility of all their data, analyzing the data to make optimal decisions and automating processes; In the oil & gas industry, specifically drilling operations, innovation must always be present, integrating artificial intelligence, IoT; so that the inventories, whether of tools or chemical materials used, are present in the ideal quantity without hindering the operation or generating delays in them.

Learning from feedback and continuously monitoring, measuring, and evaluating your drilling performance and outcomes should be considered. By learning from feedback, you can identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats across the drilling supply chain.

Communicate clearly and timely. What affects the consumer affects the supplier and viceversa. Anticipate tough times, mainly financial ones, avoid surprises by just delaying payments, or supplies.

Feedforward should be considered in the geothermal drilling supply chain. The drilling supply chain is constantly evolving due to various factors, such as market fluctuations, technological innovations, environmental regulations, and geopolitical risks. As a geothermal drilling engineer, you need to be able to adapt to these changes and ensure that your drilling operations are efficient, safe, and profitable.