Kontour™ Automated Steering System
A Fundamentally Different Approach To Drilling
Patented proportional dogleg control, automated steering capability, and field-serviceable simplicity in a single platform.
The Drilling Engineer’s RSS
The Kontour isn’t an incremental improvement on existing RSS designs — it’s a fundamentally different approach to downhole steering.
Built around our patented proportional dogleg control, an ultra-slow rotating housing, and an internally actuated mechanism with fixed external pads, the Kontour delivers true proportional steering with a simplicity that drives reliability, serviceability, and lower cost of ownership.
How It Works
A powerful electromechanical system controls two internal sleeves that provide curvature (or dogleg) and toolface control on demand or through automated self-steering control.
The ability to alter dogleg and toolface independently enables precise, proportional control tailored to the well placement objectives, resulting in a smoother, less tortuous wellbore.
Kontour uses an ultra-slow-rotating housing as a stable control platform while the mandrel transmits weight, torque, and bending to the bit.
Two independent control mechanisms work together to deliver precise, versatile steering control.
Toolface Control
Internal mechanisms rotate the steering head to the required toolface orientation, directing side force to steer the bit in the desired direction.
Dogleg Control
A second internal mechanism moves a bearing along a canted cylinder, adjusting the magnitude of deflection from 0 to 17°/100 ft — continuously.
Key Specifications
| Maximum Dogleg Severity | 17°/100 ft |
| Toolface Resolution | 2° |
| Proportional Deflection Range | 0-100% |
| Temperature Rating | 175°C |
| Housing Rotation Speed | ~1 rev/hour |
| Discrete Components | < 300 |
| MWD Compatibility | Any (Pulse or EM) |
| Mud Type Compatibility | Drilling fluid agnostic |
| Near-Bit Sensors | Inc & Azi, 7 ft from bit |
| Downhole RPM | 500 rev/min |
Advantages Over Existing Designs
Built for Drilling Engineers, Not Service Contracts
No Operational Restrictions
No RPM, GPM, or LCM limits. Not dependent on back pressure for bit side force. Less susceptible to stick-slip or HFTO.
High-Temperature Performance
All-metal, mud-lubricated bearings, hi-temp BLDC motors, and rig-serviceable electronics are designed to 175°C.
Field-Serviceable Design
Fewer than 300 components. Lowest Total Cost of Ownership with R&M cost near steerable motor R&M cost.
Universal MWD Compatibility
Bring your own MWD and mud motor. Works with any pulse or EM system.
One-Run Capability
Drill vertical, tangent, curve, and lateral in a single BHA run.
Automation-Ready Platform
Embedded firmware supports robust self-steering algorithms including geometric + geologic steering protocol (future).
- A Category Apart
Kontour vs. the Competition
The RSS market is organized into four design families. Kontour stands alone as the only commercially available “geometric” RSS — using internal leverage and fixed external pads.
True proportional steering
Continuous control replaces 100% on/off cycling, producing smoother wellbores and better placement.
mechanical simplicity
Dramatically reduced mechanical complexity for reliability and serviceability.
Reduced Mechanical Stress
Slow, steady, continuous steering — no rapid on/off cycling that wears out other systems.
Parameter Independence
Steering performance stays consistent regardless of RPM, flow rate, or mud pressure.
Proven Field Performance
DJ Basin: 106 total operating hours, 8°/100 ft DLS curve, 14,309 ft total footage, full V/T/C/L profile.
Northeast USA (West Virginia): 8-3/4” tangent, curve, lateral. High DLS (>10°/100 ft), build and turn (170°). Published SPE-213687-MS.
- Proven automated inclination hold and azimuthal control
- Proven two-way downhole communication via wireless comms
- Proven cloud-based remote operations
- Compatible with all drilling fluids
- Smooth trip-ability, no back reaming required