Offshore staff
ABERDEEN, UK – Coretrax has achieved more than 2,000 sales of its drill pipe cleaning tool, the CX-Ball, since the initial launch of the product in 2014.
This is said to deliver on average a time saving of eight minutes per ball, representing a total saving of 278 hours of rig-time to date.
In one North Sea campaign, the system has been deployed consistently for the last 74 well abandonments saving 57.6 hours of rig time.
Global business development director John Fraser said: “The simplicity of the tool allows easy and quick deployment and reduced time in the ‘red zone.’
“While this doesn’t initially suggest big time savings, over multiple applications in a campaign, significant financial, safety, and rig-time savings can be achieved.”
Following a cement job, foam wiper balls are used to avoid potential residual cement, fluids or debris, setting and accumulating on the drill pipe’s internal diameter.
However, loading the large foam balls into the restrictive tool joint can be a complex task involving the use of expensive equipment, with associated safety risks in manual handling and machinery.
The CX-Ball is encased in a soluble material which temporarily restricts the shape of the ball, allowing it to be easily and accurately deployed by a launch tube directly into the drill pipe, Coretrax said.
When the system comes into contact with water, the ball expands and returns to its original shape. The high parting stretch ratio of the foam ball then allows it to pass through small restrictions undamaged as it is pumped downhole.
06/11/2019
