Real-time 3D
Drilling Solution
making speed
collaboration
incident (est.)
post-launch
A high-stakes environment
running on outdated tools
Halliburton’s drilling engineers relied on fragmented 2D dashboards and manual cross-referencing across disparate data sources to make decisions with million-dollar consequences — in real time, thousands of feet underground.
Disconnected Data Streams
Real-time sensor data, drilling logs, and geological readings lived in separate systems, forcing engineers to mentally stitch together a fragmented operational picture during critical moments.
No Spatial 3D Awareness
Engineers had to mentally translate 2D log charts into 3D downhole reality — a cognitively expensive task prone to misinterpretation, particularly during high-pressure anomaly events.
Broken Shift Handover
Shift transitions lacked structured protocols — no written guidance, no defined responsibility hand-off, and little training. Multiple incidents were traced back to miscommunication during these gaps.
Hazard Detection Too Slow
Detecting trajectory deviations or pressure anomalies took minutes of manual chart review — by which time costly non-productive time (NPT) had already begun to accumulate.
Expert-Only Interface
Existing tools were accessible only to highly specialized data analysts, excluding geologists, supervisors, and remote managers from the operational picture — creating knowledge silos that delayed responses.
Cognitive Overload
Dense, poorly organized data displays led to alert fatigue and decision paralysis. Engineers reported spending more time interpreting the interface than acting on the insight it was meant to provide.
Who is in the room — and what do they need?
We conducted structured interviews, contextual observation sessions, and workflow shadowing across five distinct user archetypes operating across the drilling lifecycle.
Key Research Findings
- Engineers spend ~40% of time cross-referencing data across 3+ separate tools before making a decision
- Shift handover had no standardized written protocol — knowledge transfer was entirely verbal
- Alert systems were too noisy; critical warnings were ignored alongside minor ones
- Geologists and supervisors felt locked out of the operational interface — no view designed for their role
- Remote managers had no real-time visibility; they received updates via phone calls and email
- All users expressed desire for spatial context — the ability to “see” the drill bit’s position in 3D
Research Methods Used
- Contextual inquiry & workflow shadowing (5 sessions)
- Structured interviews with stakeholders (12 participants)
- Competitive benchmarking against existing drilling software
- Card sorting for information architecture validation
- Task analysis & pain point mapping workshops
From scattered findings
to focused opportunity
We synthesized research into “How Might We” questions and prioritized them against business impact and user urgency — creating a clear design mandate before any pixel was placed.
HMW unify fragmented sensor data into a single, role-appropriate view — so engineers can act in seconds, not minutes?
HMW give every user a spatially accurate mental model of downhole conditions without requiring 3D modeling expertise?
HMW design a shift handover experience that makes critical information impossible to miss or forget?
HMW surface hazard alerts early enough that intervention feels proactive — not reactive — saving both time and cost?
HMW bridge the communication gap between remote managers and on-site engineers through a shared real-time view?
HMW reduce cognitive load so engineers can focus on decisions — not on decoding an interface?
| Opportunity Area | User Impact | Business Value | Effort | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real-time 3D wellbore visualization | Very High | Decision speed, NPT reduction | High | P0 Critical |
| Unified role-based dashboard | High | Efficiency, adoption | Medium | P0 Critical |
| Structured shift handover flow | High | Safety, risk reduction | Medium | P1 High |
| Anti-collision & hazard alerts | Very High | Safety, NPT savings | High | P1 High |
| Remote collaboration view | Medium | Cross-team alignment | Low | P2 Medium |
| Historical data comparison tools | Medium | Trend analysis | Low | P2 Medium |
Principles that shaped
every decision
Before exploring solutions, we established non-negotiable design principles — constraints that would govern tradeoffs and keep the product laser-focused on user safety and efficiency.
Clarity Over Completeness
Showing all data at once is worse than showing the right data at the right time. Every panel must earn its place through demonstrated user need — not engineering capability.
Role-Appropriate Views
A geologist and a drilling engineer look at the same operation but need fundamentally different information. The interface must adapt to who is looking, not force all users into one view.
Spatial Truth First
3D visualization should mirror physical reality with accuracy — not just aesthetic appeal. The wellbore model must integrate live data with zero perceptual distortion of scale or position.
Progressive Disclosure
Surface the critical signal at a glance; let users drill deeper on demand. Avoid front-loading the interface with data that only specialists need — protect the decision-making zone from noise.
Alert Hierarchy
Not all alerts are equal. The system must use visual severity levels (critical / warning / informational) consistently — so engineers can trust that red always means stop and act now.
Zero-Ambiguity Handover
Shift transitions must be structured, documented, and digitally reinforced. The handover experience should make it impossible to miss a critical status — even if the previous operator forgot to mention it.
10 weeks of structured
exploration
We moved through a phased design sprint — starting with 3D model fundamentals and progressively integrating data layers, dashboard modules, and collaborative workflows.
3D Wellbore Engine & Data Foundation
Built the core 3D rendering engine using real-time data integration from rig sensors. Established data pipeline architecture and explored OpenGL-based wellbore models with live downhole condition overlays. Simultaneously gathered and cleaned historical drilling datasets for model validation.
3D Model Design Approach
Defined key interaction paradigms: zoom depth, rotation fidelity, LOD thresholds, and data overlay strategies. Explored the balance between visual detail and real-time performance. Created initial 3D drill bit and stabilizer models for accurate downhole representation.
Rig Action Plan & Alert Visualization
Designed the Isometric Loupe — a contextual magnification view that activates when anomalies are detected. Explored split-view layouts combining 3D wellbore context with data charts side-by-side. Modeled fracture and mud loss alert states.
Shift Handover Process Design
Investigated the handover failure points uncovered during research. Mapped the full handover journey from pre-shift summary generation to post-handover confirmation. Designed structured forms, responsibility assignment, and digital sign-off workflows to eliminate ambiguity.
Loupe Integration & State Design
Refined the Isometric Loupe into a polished feature: default state, 2× alert zoom, and 3× critical zoom. Each state tested with engineers for comprehension speed and false-alarm tolerance. Validated that contextual magnification reduced time-to-understanding by ~40% in early prototyping sessions.
Performance Optimization
Applied LOD techniques, procedural texture generation, and polygon reduction strategies to maintain visual fidelity while hitting performance targets on standard rig hardware. Explored geometric simplification for non-critical 3D elements.
Full Dashboard System Design
Designed the complete Home Dashboard, Real-time Torque & Drag module, Anti-Collision view, and Bit Grading panel. Established the modular layout system, customizable widgets, and role-based panel configurations. Final screens reviewed, refined, and prepared for stakeholder handover.
Key screens & modules
Each surface was designed with a distinct user need in mind — from immersive 3D wellbore exploration to rapid shift-transition status reviews.
Isometric Loupe — 3D Wellbore Viewer
The centrepiece of the platform. A contextual 3D rendering of the wellbore that switches between default, 2× alert, and 3× critical zoom states — bringing spatial reality to drilling engineers without requiring 3D software expertise.
Torque & Drag Dashboard
Interactive charts with zoom, filter, and historical overlay. Role-based KPI cards surface what each user needs at a glance.
Anti-Collision & Bit Grading
Automated alerts when trajectory approaches hazard zones. Bit wear grading with pore pressure and actual vs. predicted overlay.
Structured Shift Handover
A guided, step-by-step digital handover protocol that auto-generates a shift summary from live data, requires digital sign-off from both incoming and outgoing operators, and surfaces the top 3 critical alerts that must be acknowledged before the shift can begin.
What we built & why it worked
Six interconnected design solutions — each addressing a specific failure point identified during research, each measured against defined success criteria.
Isometric Loupe with Progressive Zoom States
A contextual 3D magnification system that activates on anomaly detection — showing spatial context at 1×, 2× alert, and 3× critical zoom levels. Engineers can instantly understand the location and severity of a downhole event without switching views.
Role-Based Dashboard Architecture
Five distinct view configurations tailored to each persona — from the Drilling Engineer’s parameter-dense layout to the Remote Manager’s at-a-glance status overview. Users see exactly what they need without wading through irrelevant data.
Structured Digital Shift Handover
A guided protocol that auto-generates a shift summary from live data, enforces acknowledgment of critical alerts, and requires digital sign-off from both parties. Eliminates the primary source of operational miscommunication.
Tiered Alert Severity System
A three-level alert hierarchy (informational / warning / critical) with consistent visual language across the entire platform. Engineers learn the system once and trust it everywhere — eliminating alert fatigue and restoring signal clarity.
Real-time T&D & Anti-Collision Panels
Modular dashboard panels with live chart updates, threshold-based automated alerts, historical overlay, and customizable alert conditions. Remote managers get the same live view as on-site engineers — enabling true parallel decision-making.
Performance-Optimized 3D Engine
LOD-based rendering, procedural texture generation, and dynamic polygon reduction ensure the 3D model runs in real time on standard rig hardware — without sacrificing the visual fidelity needed for accurate spatial interpretation.
Testing what we built
with the people it serves
We ran moderated usability tests, eye-tracking sessions, and scenario-based task walkthroughs with engineers, geologists, and supervisors across multiple testing rounds.
Usability Metrics — Post-Test Results
Testing Methods
- Moderated usability sessions with 8 engineers across 2 rounds of prototypes
- Eye-tracking to validate visual hierarchy of critical alert zones
- Scenario-based task walkthroughs simulating real anomaly events
- Cognitive walkthrough with 3 geologists on the 3D spatial model
- A/B testing of alert severity color systems (red/amber vs. red/yellow)
- Longitudinal diary study during shift handover prototype testing
User Feedback — Engineers
For the first time I can see where the drill bit actually is in relation to the formation. I don’t have to guess anymore — the 3D view just tells me.
— Drilling Engineer, Usability Session R2The shift handover screen is the first tool I’ve seen that makes it actually hard to miss something critical. I can hand over and walk away confident.
— Senior Drilling Supervisor, Testing Round 1Iterations Made Post-Testing
- Increased contrast between warning and critical alert states after eye-tracking revealed ambiguity
- Added a persistent “last updated” timestamp to all live data panels — engineers were uncertain about data freshness
- Simplified the Bit Grading panel after geologists found the initial version too data-dense
- Redesigned the 3D zoom trigger from a manual button to an automatic anomaly-triggered activation
- Added a quick-summary card to the shift handover that shows the 3 most critical items regardless of scroll position
Measurable outcomes
at every level
The platform delivered significant performance improvements across decision speed, operational efficiency, safety, and user satisfaction — all measured against the original baseline and validated through post-launch tracking.
| Success Metric | Baseline (Before) | Target | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time to identify critical events | ~4–6 min | <2 min | ~1.5 min | ✓ Exceeded |
| Decision-making accuracy rate | ~68% | >85% | 91% | ✓ Exceeded |
| Shift handover completeness | ~55% documented | 90%+ | 98% | ✓ Exceeded |
| Cross-team communication frequency | 12 calls/shift avg | ↓ 30% | 8.2 calls/shift | ✓ Met |
| User satisfaction (SUS score) | 52 / 100 | >70 | 82 / 100 | ✓ Exceeded |
| Non-productive time (NPT) events | Baseline tracked | ↓ 10–15% | ↓ 13% (est.) | ✓ Met |