Frank Hartley
Drilling and Production Editor
ORLANDO, Florida -- An Anti-Stall technology (AST) has been developed as a mechanical downhole solution which aims to adjust the drilling torque automatically in real time, said Knut Sigve Seines with StatoilHydro today at the 2008 IADC Drilling Conference. The tool originally was developed by Tomax AS for coiled tubing applications where it reduced vibrations, motor stalls, equipment failures, and general wear while increasing penetration and run rates, said Seines.
Seines said the tool was developed further based on the need for a similar solution for rotary drilling to eliminate cutter-induced torque variations and string stalls in difficult formations. He continued to say that the tools were run in test wells and later in field operations totaling 25 regular jobs on the Norwegian continental shelf.
Seines concluded that through the scientifically monitored tests, field trials, and numerous field operations, the AST has reduced slick-slip effects, bit stalls, drillstring overloads, and has improved penetration rates in real time.
3/4/2008
