Churchill Drilling Tools, a leading oilfield service company specialising in drilling innovation, has revealed that its award-winning DAV MX™ CircSub was activated for a landmark 700th time this month.
Run in hundreds of wells every year and recognised for its reliability, resilience and versatility the dart activated DAV MX™ CircSub is a contingency tool that has helped operators drill faster and more efficiently at low risk. In February 2018, for example, the DAV MX™ was activated by operators across the globe, including in two separate Persian Gulf campaigns to get their drilling operations back on track following unplanned events.
In the first project, a plugged string led to a pressure spike and a halt to operations. By activating the DAV MX™’s emergency opening ball (EOB), the operator regained circulation in just an hour. The operator subsequently used the DAV MX™ to hole clean, then displaced the tripping mud prior to pulling out of the hole.
Operators value the DAV MX™ given the contingency circulation path it provides, ideal for pack off or plugged string scenarios. On this occasion, the operator saved significant time and cost and has gone on to deploy the DAV MX™ on other campaigns.
The DAV MX™ CircSub was deployed on a second Middle Eastern campaign when drilling was halted to combat total losses after the stability of the well was threatened. The operator activated the CircSub four times to pump lost circulation material (LCM) pills at depths of up to 10,000ft. It took less than 10 minutes for Churchill’s smart darts to activate the DAV MX™ allowing the drilling engineer to tackle losses quickly and recommence drilling, limiting non-productive time.
The DAV MX™’s unique lock open feature was enabled, and its reliability and resilience ensured that the operator’s BHA was not contaminated.
Nicholas Kjaer, General Manager for Churchill’s Middle East operations, said: “Middle East operators demand tools that are reliable, resilient and flexible which are simple to use and cut operating time. They want a partner that can provide 24/7 specialist and operational support, delivered by an experienced quality team. That’s why our Middle East operations continue to grow and demand for the DAV MX™ CircSub increases significantly.
“The two campaigns in the Persian Gulf are an excellent illustration of the flexibility and reliability of our flagship product. Operators take confidence knowing that with the DAV MX™ in their strings they can not only regain circulation or tackle losses but also optimise a range of other applications such as hole cleaning, self-filling or dry tripping.”
Churchill’s smart dart activated DAV MX™ is a multi-functioning, multi-cycling circulation sub that delivers significantly improved performance and is simple to use. Fast, versatile and reliable, it can be run in most environments and in a wide range of applications.
The DAV MX™ is a multi-function, multi-cycling circulating sub which is activated with our patented MX™ Smart Dart technology. The system raises the bar on performance and reliability without adding complexity for the user. With several patented features, such as hold open and latch & seal, the tool is clearly the smart choice for CircSub users.
Class leading reliability is delivered by a range of robust dart options pumped into a simple rugged sub and catcher. The tool is extremely user-friendly with no need for configuration prior to use – simply drop the required dart to ‘plug and play’. In Deepwater, HPHT and High Angle operations, the speed and performance of the DAV MX™ has delivered thousands of hours of savings across the globe.
The Smart Choice:
- Versatile – our range of Smart Darts provides users with split flow, full-bypass and well control options for a countless number of applications.
- Reliable – unlike with conventional balls, DAV MX™ darts will not blow-thru on opening therefore can be pumped down at much higher speeds.
- Simple – the tool is simple and easy to operate, requiring no service hand.
- Performance – the DAV MX™ cycling is largely immune to variations in angle, temperature, pressure, mud type and weight, meaning it can be run in virtually any environment and for endless applications.
Extreme heat no sweat for Churchill Drilling Tools.
Our flagship DAV MX™ CircSub was selected for the world’s deepest and hottest geothermal borehole in the Iceland Deep Drilling Project (IDDP) on the Reykjanes Peninsula.
The IDDP well is earmarked to become an integral part of Iceland’s geothermal energy production – providing clean, renewable energy by using supercritical steam heated by the earth’s magma.
Drilling took 168 days and involved the deepening of an existing geothermal borehole to a depth of 4650m. The IDDP team encountered temperatures of 427°C at a depth of 4650m – simultaneously creating the deepest and hottest ever geothermal borehole and encountering supercritical conditions at a shallower depth than anticipated.
The DAV MX™ CircSub was selected on the recommendation of a major operator and partner in the IDDP project due to its robust temperature resistance and experience in HPHT conventional wells. The tool offered a contingency for the IDDP team against pack-off related circulation loss in which the bottom hole assembly (BHA) components would be literally cooked if circulation was lost.
Mike Churchill, CEO and commercial director said: “We are delighted to secure two world firsts’ on this well. The IDDP well is both the deepest and hottest geothermal well on record and it is a reflection on the DAV MX™ that it was selected to be run in this string. The tool has a significant case history in HPHT wells and can withstand a good deal of punishment – both of which suited the client in this unconventional case.
“Geothermal wells are a new area for Churchill and it is a market we are looking to expand as our competition in the segment simply cannot match the resilience of the CircSub.”
石油圈
