California - based oil and natural gas servicing firm Weatherford International has released AutoTong , which it claims is the world 's first autonomous pipe makeup system . Embed article link: It determines the correct connection parameters based on criteria specified by the original equipment manufacturer . It also eliminates the need for a human joint - design analyst by using high - resolution data to automatically determine the connection quality . “ By removing the element of human error from the physical makeup and connection validation processes , the AutoTong system sharply increases the safety and efficiency of well construction operations " , said Aaron Sinnott , vice president of well engineering at Weatherford .
California - based oil and natural gas servicing firm Weatherford International has released AutoTong , which it claims is the world 's first autonomous pipe makeup system . It determines the correct connection parameters based on criteria specified by the original equipment manufacturer . It also eliminates the need for a human joint - design analyst by using high - resolution data to automatically determine the connection quality . “ By removing the element of human error from the physical makeup and connection validation processes , the AutoTong system sharply increases the safety and efficiency of well construction operations " , said Aaron Sinnott , vice president of well engineering at Weatherford .