Recovering more from mature fields: How technology and digital are changing the game

ABDELLAH MERAD, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CORE SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT, SLB 

Global energy demand is accelerating, driven by artificial intelligence, data centers, and electrification. Meeting this demand means getting more from what we already have. By 2030, nearly 80% of oil and gas production will come from mature fields. That demands innovation, efficiency and scale. 

THE CORE CHALLENGE: DECLINING YIELDS 

Mature fields are the backbone of global supply, but they come with a challenge: declining yields and rising complexity. Operators are extending asset life to reduce break-even costs, but that requires advanced interventions—artificial lift, water flooding, gas lift, chemical injection, and enhanced oil recovery (EOR). 

The economics are unforgiving. Every dollar invested must deliver measurable returns. Aging infrastructure, higher water cuts, and well integrity issues are ever-present challenges that operators face. The solution? Deploying the right technology at the right time and scale. That’s where SLB comes in. 

CHAMPIONX: A STRATEGIC MOVE 

Our acquisition of ChampionX strengthens SLB’s position in the less cyclical, high-growth production phase. ChampionX brings industry-leading production chemicals, proven artificial lift systems, emissions monitoring, and a robust digital platform. Combined with SLB’s global expertise and broad technology portfolio, this creates a powerhouse for maximizing recovery and improving efficiency.  

DIGITALIZATION: UNLOCKING HIDDEN BARRELS 

Historically, recovery rates from conventional reservoirs hover around 35% to 40%, leaving billions of barrels untapped. Digital technologies—AI, real-time analytics, and automation—are rewriting that equation. For example, collaborative planning and execution of intervention operations enables more successful interventions. The IDEX™ collaboration platform is an agnostic digital ecosystem that enables operator teams to plan better, collaborate in real time, and turn every well intervention into a learning opportunity. It tackles the complexity of interventions, adds transparency to the decision-making process, and increases the predictability and chance of success. It is a smarter way to work- and collaboratively. 

DIGITAL IN ACTION 

Putting data and AI to action is no longer theoretical—it’s operational. IDEX copilot is already deployed and piloted by customers in Norway, embedded directly into planning and execution workflows to drive streamlined planning, higher certainty and improved intervention success. The addition of IDEX to a broader intervention strategy, based on technology co-innovation, large-scale digital deployment and aligned goals, has helped this customer improve its intervention success, reaching around 90% today.   

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE 

Success isn’t one-size-fits-all. Each operator faces unique challenges and priorities. For some, it’s deploying a sucker rod pump; for others, it’s implementing a fully integrated digital production system. Our mission is to meet customers where they are on their production journey and deliver solutions that maximize value and return on investment. 

Looking ahead, AI-driven automation and autonomous production will be the force multiplier that transforms recovery economics. SLB is committed to leading this evolution, helping operators push recovery rates higher, reduce emissions, and meet the world’s growing energy needs. 

ABDELLAH MERAD is Executive Vice President, Core Services and Equipment, at SLB, a position he has held since April 2022. Previously, he was SLB’s Executive Vice President for Performance Management. Since earning a Masters Degree in Economics and Finance in 1997 from Université Paris Dauphine – PSL, Mr. Merad has worked nearly 29 years at SLB.