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Lower Tertiary

Maximize performance in hostile environment with higher ROP and less cost

Our experienced professionals apply a total systems approach, including drilling fluids, bits, reamer, and drilling and evaluation tools to reach your planned casing points with fewer trips.

Recently, our GaugePro™ XPR expandable reamer enlarged 1,157 ft of hole—drilled with a Quantec™ PDC pilot bit—to set the world record for the deepest 12 1/4-in. wellbore. We delivered a smooth, in-gauge hole that required just one trip for the liner to get to bottom.

Because of the extreme target depths of the Lower Tertiary wells, drilling and evaluation technologies have to withstand extreme pressure. A few years ago, we deployed our 30,000-psi-rated AutoTrak™ rotary closed-loop system with MWD/LWD services.  Our experience in high-pressure operations combined with our TesTrak™ formation pressure testing service saved the operator approximately $9 million dollars through a 53% increase of gross ROP and the elimination of a casing string.

Maximize long-term production in ultra deepwater

How do you reliably produce 100,000 barrels per day of 25-deg. API gravity oil from a low-permeability reservoir in water that’s 2-miles deep?

In Alaminos Canyon, an operator needed to tap into Paleocene reservoirs that could only deliver 750 psi flowing tubing pressures to the seabed, insufficient to overcome the 8,000-ft fluid head in the risers. 

Our innovative subsea electrical submersible pumps (ESPs) are the key to enabling subsea separation and boosting of the produced fluids. This technology enhances production by removing backpressure from the wells while ensuring the produced fluids are reliably delivered to the host platform. 

Understanding the complex relationships between ESPs and production chemistry, we also worked closely with the operator to provide expert flow assurance, monitoring and surveillance, chemical injection, and chemical product development services to the project team.

This integrated approach led to better design strategies and will enhance equipment run life while lowering total operating cost. We’ve also cross-trained our on-site production specialists to help minimize personnel on board issues while ensuring expert oversight of ESP operations and the chemical management program.

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