The first consignment of new drilling hardware designed to combat abrasive drilling conditions in East Africa’s emerging oil and gas sector has been shipped from Aberdeen for use in ongoing operations.
A proprietary new “hardfacing” for bottom hole assembly equipment has been developed to counteract the hard abrasive formations of the region, prolong operational life and to reduce the number of lost drilling hours tripping in and out of the hole to change stabilising equipment.
Aberdeen-based Hunting Equipment Management Services (HEMS) has pioneered a new manufacturing process at its Altens base and has shipped the first of the tools.
Designed by deputy general manager and technical manager Doug Stuart and his experienced team, Hunting’s stabilising equipment features a hardfacing dressing which has been developed specifically to cope with the challenging East African conditions.
“Each drilling hour lost represents a significant financial loss to the operator and the work we have undertaken is designed to minimise drilling downtime and also reduce the amount of manual handling operations required while tripping in and out of the hole,” said Stuart.
“East Africa presents some very challenging drilling conditions and to combat that we’ve used a combination of innovative design, quality materials and skilled workmanship to create a hardfacing which is able to withstand even the most abrasive drilling formations.
“The design, application and formation of the hardfacing also reduces the risk of the washing. We will be working with our clients to analyse the performance of the new hardfacing during drilling operations. Our main objective is to enable continued stability of the drill string because of the added durability of the hardfacing.”
Hunting says that demand for HEMS tools has been buoyed by the firm’s success in becoming the first service company in the world to obtain facility approval under the Fearnley Procter NS-1 accreditation programme as a rental facility for drilling equipment.
Since November 2010, HEMS has also carried a Fearnley Procter NS-1 certificate for the application of non-magnetic wear bands.
A mix of significant investment in facilities, equipment and staff training enabled HEMS to attain this new approval, with all equipment manufactured and maintained to conform to the highest standards in the industry.
HEMS is a subsidiary of Hunting Energy Services, part of the Hunting PLC group. A multi-million investment was made in the base at Altens as part of a £17million expansion of the group’s north-east facilities, which also include bases at Fordoun and Portlethen.
HEMS offer a wide range of bottom hole assembly drilling equipment including steel and non magnetic drill collars, stabilisers, hole openers and various types of subs.