In 1999, a bicenter bit was introduced that could drill out cement and continue to drill ahead. Rate of penetration (ROP), directional control, and hole quality also were improved. In the first field test of this new technology, the bicenter bits drilled out and drilled ahead on consecutive vertical, build, and tangent sections of a deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GOM) well. Directional targets were hit with no steering difficulty and the casing or liner was run to bottom with no problems. Cost savings in trip time alone were more than U.S. $560,000.