Operators know that drilling through trouble zones can quickly turn from trying to preserve hole size into an exercise in hole survival. Rather than mitigating problems resulting from these zones, some operators are taking a pro-active approach with solid expandable tubulars (SET^®). Identifying the best place for SET use can weaken the detrimental effects of trouble zones and optimize the benefits of expandable technology—opportunity versus need. Empirical results from over 550 installations of solid expandable tubular systems illustrate the advantages of applying this technology prior to encountering known trouble zones. This presentation uses several case histories that demonstrate the benefits of incorporating solid expandable tubular systems into drilling plans.