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Sperry-Sun
introduces Geo-Pilot Series II
Posted: 20 February 2003
Sperry-Sun, a product service line of Halliburton Energy Services,
announced today the release of its Geo-Pilot® Series II rotary
steerable system. The Series II tool, which was first introduced
to operators in the North Sea, incorporates all of the design elements
of the Geo-Pilot Series I system, as well as several new unique
features. The Geo-Pilot Series II 7600 system (used in 8-1/2 to
10-5/8 inch holes) has completed 30 runs without a single failure
and has a current "three-month rolling" MTBF (mean time
between failure) of more than 1,100 hours.
"We are committed to our Reservoir Deliverability Strategy
and the construction of the highest quality borehole. The step-change
in performance and reliability seen with the Geo-Pilot Series II
system translates into costs savings, reduction of non-productive
time, and more holes-in-one for our customers," said Phil Longorio,
vice president, Halliburton Sperry-Sun.
The Geo-Pilot rotary steerable system, designed in collaboration
with Japan National Oil Corporation (JNOC) and Security DBS, and
a part of the FullDrift™ drilling suite, was commercially
introduced to the market three years ago. The rapid-growing customer
base is a result of the system's ability to routinely outperform
its competitors, providing operators with the best quality borehole.
Continuous engineering review and careful analysis of system performance
from the Series I system's on-board diagnostic systems have allowed
the rapid implementation of design improvements over the last three
years, enhancing performance and reliability.
"We have assembled a world-class engineering team dedicated
to the continued improvement of the Geo-Pilot system. On-board diagnostics
and further engineering innovations position the Geo-Pilot system
at the forefront of the industry," said Tom Coleman, global
directional drilling manager, Halliburton Sperry-Sun.
The Geo-Pilot Series II system's performance surpasses all current
systems, with added capabilities such as an azimuthal gamma ray
sensor just 3 feet from the bit, the closest in the industry. The
sensor consists of three independent measurements providing early
warning of formation changes in real time, which allows more precise
geosteering of the well. The Series II system 1) has three- dimensional
"cruise control" capability that allows the well trajectory
to be held constant and automatically corrects for any walk tendencies,
2) allows precise vertical drilling, and 3) has vertical kick-off
capability. The Series II system was recently introduced in the
Gulf of Mexico; initial achievements include drilling vertically
through salt, keeping inclination below 0.8 degrees for more than
3,000 feet. The well was then kicked off from vertical.
The GeoSpan two-way communication system has proved capable of
performing flawlessly at depths greater than 30,000 feet when other
systems can not. This provides operators with truly "on-the-fly"
command capabilities, completely eliminating the need to stop and
orient the tool. This translates into significant savings associated
with rig cost and non-productive time for operators.
Newly engineered seal assemblies are now rated to handle 3,500
psi pressure spikes, and even greater pack-off protection is in
development. Tool geometry and control software has been altered
to improve deviation performance at low angles and in soft formations.
Other software improvements now allow the tool to compensate automatically
for an even wider range of formations and hole conditions. Working
in close collaboration with Security DBS application design evaluation
(ADE) specialists helps provide optimized bit designs for all of
Sperry-Sun's point-the-bit technology, with tangible benefits in
extended bit life, reduced torque and drag, and enhanced directional
performance.
The Geo-Pilot Series II system upgrades are all backwards compatible
with the Series I version, and the remaining Geo-Pilot I systems
will be upgraded to full Series II specifications by Q2 2003.
The Geo-Pilot system, the first commercial second-generation rotary
steerable tool, operates by deflecting a one-piece rotating driveshaft
off center between two bearings, pointing the bit in the desired
direction. This affords the advantage that smooth-running Security
DBS extended-gauge roller cone or PDC bits can be used, dramatically
reducing vibration due to bit whirl. To date, the original system
has accumulated more than 300 runs in the North Sea, the Gulf of
Mexico, the Middle East, Australasia, Brazil, Alaska, and South
Africa.
For more information see www.halliburton.com.
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