An operator in the Gulf of Mexico was working on an exploration well. Baker Hughes, a GE company (BHGE) had been awarded an integrated operations contract to drill and complete deepwater and ultra-deepwater wells for this operator; however, this would be the first BHGE well to be drilled at such water depth in the area (>9,800 ft, or 2,987 m). Additional challenges facing the team included requirements to directionally drill and simultaneously ream through low-mechanical-strength interbedded formations (<2,000 psi unconfined compressive strength, or UCS), avoid contingency casings, and provide accurate and early detection of the coring point. In order to ensure that all customer requirements were met, the BHGE team developed a detailed, tailored proposal using severa

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