HOUSTON-- Particle Drilling Technologies Inc. (PDTI) has completed the first phase of its in-house test program for a new particle injection system. The company says testing confirms that the automated system operates as intended.
Particle Drilling uses a mechanical means to continuously inject particles into drilling fluid where the particles ultimately are forced through bottomhole nozzles at high speed to impact and break certain kinds of formations.
PDTI says the next phase of this test program will focus on endurance testing of the system, including testing under variable conditions to refine processes and procedures for operating and maintaining the equipment.
"After having tested several prototype injection concepts, the new 'extruder-based' particle injection system was engineered, designed, and fully assembled during the last four months," says Jim Terry, president and CEO. "The equipment has been designed such that it has complete and integral operational redundancy built for and complies with oilfield standards for operational integrity and safety. Now that we have had an opportunity to test the essential elements, we have begun planning the next commercial trial and are very excited about taking the next step towards commercializing particle impact drilling."
1/28/2008
