As anyone in the industry knows, every hour of operation is measured in the tens of
thousands of dollars and just one major hardware failure can be disastrous. Cutting-edge engineering solutions can
can save money, increase performance consistency and improve overall safety onsite. At Drilling Innovative Solutions
(DIS), we specialize in innovative safety float valves and related specialized drilling tools. The
three products featured below are all great examples of how innovative engineering can make a difference in modern
oil and gas operations.
The
Gatekeeper CRC
The Gatekeeper Cement Retaining Collar (CRC) is
a mechanical isolation device that is installed with the casing or liner string and is actuated by an inner string
assembly. The CRC reliably isolates fluid and cement
above and below the collar even in high-temperature, high-pressure environments. It also facilitates downhole
pressure control that is suitable for both positive and negative testing at the termination of a cementing
operation.
Product Highlights
This technology was built to withstand extreme environments, but its design also
prioritizes expedient installation and operation. Since it doesn’t require wiper or cleanout trips, operators can
get the device into action faster than drillable packer or bridge plug cement retainers. This retaining collar can
also be adjusted or modified to meet the needs of specific circumstances or environmental demands.
The CRC
in Action
The Gatekeeper CRC was originally conceived to
address the time-consuming installation of conventional mechanical isolation devices used in oil and gas operations.
There were several significant challenges presented prior to its first practical application in the field,
particularly due to the need for extensive shop testing to ensure consistency and reliability. All parties involved
had to be convinced of the product’s viability and potential for significant time-savings before moving
forward.
We are proud to say that our engineering team met all of these challenges with flying
colors. The CRC’s design allowed for significant time
savings by shortening or eliminating several key steps in the process. The operator was able to shorten the shoe
track, as well as eliminate the drill out following cementing operation, round trip wiper/scraper runs, running of
mechanical isolation device via wireline and round trip runs to displace wellbore fluids.
The innovative design of this device was estimated to reduce the process by over 100
hours overall, which translated into over $1 million in net cost savings for the client. This product was recently
used in a Mississippi Canyon well and is performing as designed, saving the client time and money.
The Gatekeeper
CRCPA
The Gatekeeper Cement Retaining Collar Plug Activated (CRCPA) utilizes many of the same design elements and offers similar benefits to the original
Gatekeeper CRC. It is manufactured to API
11D1 standards and can be adapted to various equipment sizes and is suitable for most cementing operations.
Product Highlights
This retaining collar is built according to customer specifications, which means there
is plenty of flexibility in application with various casings and liner running tools. It can also be configured to
respond to different levels of actuation pressure to give operators better control over response and closure. The
materials used are suitable for high-temperature, high-pressure environments and the collar can be designed for sour
gas conditions on request.
The CRCPA
in Action
This collar device design was born from a need for a time-saving alternative to
conventional cast iron bridge plugs that includes a built-in fail-safe in case problems arise that impede planned
cementing procedures. A major operator in the Gulf of Mexico needed technology that leveraged the existing strengths
of the Gatekeeper CRC while incorporating plug
activation.
The Gatekeeper CRCPA proved itself as a
powerful and cost-effective alternative to comparable drilling tools in its first live trial application. The
operator saw roughly 50 hours of time savings, which was estimated to be over $1.5 million in net cost. The
integrated fail-safe mechanism is now a standard feature following this success.
Sentinel
Drilling Safety Float Valve
Our Sentinel Drilling Safety Float Valve is
also a result of our innovative and client-centered engineering team. It’s no secret that conventional safety float
valves have been lagging behind in terms of development, with little improvement in available products over the last
few decades. Since there’s always room for improvement, we decided to take a few bold steps forward to advance our
design to achieve greater quality and reliability. The resulting product is the Sentinel Drilling Safety Float Valve.
Product Highlights
This product has become one of our flagship technologies thanks to its durability and
multi-faceted design. It’s built for both normal and directional drilling operations with pressure tolerance up to
10,000 psi and temperature tolerance up to 450 degrees F. The valve’s design allows for full opening for flow or
access and instantaneous bottom hole pressure readings in neutral flow environments.
The Sentinel‘s sealing surface is protected
from erosion by a flow tube that allows it to operate reliably for long periods of time. There are plenty of
customization options available to clients to ensure compatibility for a wide range of applications. This includes
availability in numerous connection sizes and internal diameters, as well as sour gas condition capabilities.
Watch here for a demonstration of how the
Sentinel Drilling Safety Float Valve is
actuated as well as an explanation of three key benefits this valve brings to
oil and gas projects.
Take Innovation to a New Level with DIS
We’re always looking for ways to be more innovative at Drilling Innovative Solutions.
Our experienced engineering team uses their technical knowledge and industry experience to create solutions that
improve drilling tool technology. Conact us today to learn more about how we can help you save time and money
without compromising quality or safety.
