Sole Houston | Research-Led UX Design

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AI DP & WOB |
Automation (PLC/HMI)

Project Summary

Role: UX Designer

Project Overview

Collaborated with Nabors to optimize SmartROS automation products for drilling operations (not sliding). Focused on designing a real-time monitoring system for drillers to control and monitor WOB (Weight on Bit), SPM (Strokes Per Minute), and SPP (Standpipe Pressure). The goal was to create a fast gateway for drillers to adjust parameters, monitor zero values, and distinguish between manual and AI-operated (SmartDRILL) actions.

Client & Sales Impact Metrics

  • Operational Efficiency: Designed a real-time line chart to help drillers identify optimal zeroing patterns, reducing downtime and improving decision-making.
  • User Adoption: Simplified the interface by removing redundant AI WOB options and prioritizing the last zero value display, aligning with driller preferences.
  • AI Integration: Developed a Tare Info logic system to differentiate between manual (ST/SD/StW, Man/WtS) and AI-controlled (WtW, DYN) zeroing, enhancing transparency and trust in automation.
  • Safety & Precision: Implemented threshold visualizations (e.g., WOB ±75, SPP ±300 psi) to help drillers avoid drastic changes and maintain operational safety.

Methodology

  • Discovery:
    • Conducted stakeholder and super-user interviews to understand needs (e.g., preference for last zero value prominence, dismissal of AI WOB options on the main screen).
    • Analyzed existing GUI to identify critical data (e.g., last zero value, AI system status, tolerance indicators).
  • Ideation & Design:
    • Designed a line chart with time/depth on the X-axis and WOB/SPM/SPP on the Y-axis, using the old design style for familiarity.
    • Integrated Tare Info logic to classify zeroing methods (e.g., ST/SD/StW, DYN/Man/WtS).
    • Added color-coding for manual (orange/red) vs. AI (blue/green) actions, and threshold indicators (green = in tolerance, red = out of tolerance).
  • Testing & Validation:
    • Validated the line chart design with super-users, confirming it effectively mirrors their existing tools while adopting the SmartROS visual theme.
    • Tested threshold differentiation (e.g., in-tolerance vs. out-of-tolerance values) to ensure clarity for drillers.
    • Iterated on SPM/SPP scaling (0–500 SPM, 300 psi range) and WOB window limits (±75 from last model value).

Goals

  • Optimize User Workflow: Provide drillers with a fast, intuitive gateway to monitor and adjust WOB, SPM, and SPP in real time.
  • Clarify AI vs. Manual Control: Visually separate SmartDRILL AutoZeros from manual adjustments to build trust in automation.
  • Improve Safety: Use threshold visualizations to help drillers avoid drastic SPP changes and maintain operational stability.
  • Pattern Recognition: Leverage line charts to help drillers identify trends, anomalies, and optimal zeroing patterns.

Key Findings

  • Drillers prefer simplicity: They want the last zero value prominently displayed and AI WOB options removed from the main screen.
  • Line charts are ideal for showing trends and patterns in WOB/SPM/SPP over time.
  • Thresholds are critical: Visual indicators for tolerance ranges (e.g., WOB ±75, SPP ±300 psi) help drillers act quickly.
  • Tare Info logic must be clear: Drillers need to understand whether zeroing is manual (ST/Man/StW) or AI-controlled (DYN/WtW).

Key Solutions

  • Chart Design:
    • X-Axis: Time or depth (e.g., “Reading at 10:45 AM / Depth: 3,250 ft”).
    • Y-Axis: Dynamic scaling for WOB (±75 from last value), SPM (0–500), SPP (300 psi range).
    • Lines for SPM: Use lines (not dots) to emphasize trends over individual data points.
    • Color Coding: Manual = orange/red, AI = blue/green, out of tolerance = red.
  • Tare Info Logic:
    • Driller-Controlled: ST/SD/StW, ST/Man/StW, ST/StW, ST/SD/WtS, ST/Man/WtS, ST/WtS, ST/Man/Other, ST/Other.
    • AI-Controlled: DYN/SD/StW, DYN/Man/StW, DYN/StW, DYN/SD/WtS, DYN/Man/WtS, DYN/WtS, SmartDRILL Recipe Match, DYN/Man/Other, DYN/Other.
  • UI Adjustments:
    • Recreated the card on the Drill page, merging AI WOB and AI DP while removing redundant elements.
    • Added annotations to indicate manual vs. SmartDRILL AutoZeros (e.g., “AutoZero at 10:45”).
    • Included Pickup > WtO (Weight to Off-bottom) nomenclature with tooltips for clarity.
  • Feedback Mechanism:
    • Provided visual feedback for drastic SPP changes (e.g., pop-up alerts or highlighted outliers).

Outcome: A user-validated, real-time monitoring system that improves driller efficiency, safety, and trust in AI automation.

<<Recipe Transparency

Drill Screen>>