Traction Tool

When constructing oil and gas wells, once drilling is completed the borehole must be secured immediately through a completion operation. This operation involves the installation of a completion string that is assembled and inserted into the well from the drill floor. Typical completion strings are comprised of liners or sand screens which prevent sand entering the well during the production phase. When performing operations in long horizontal wells, the completion string will have to overcome mechanical friction which requires the utilization of additional methods and tools to ensure the liner or sand screens reach the target depth. Today's solutions have technical limitations which limit the completion process and could cause damage to the well, an inability to reach the target depth and consequently reduce the oil that can be recovered. IRIS, Stavanger has developed a tool and method that can push and/or pull liner strings and sand screens into the wellbore with axial forces of 10's of tones. The tool, named "Traction Tool", is cylinder shaped with movable packers and is attached to the front of or behind the completion string. Initial testing of a simplified full-scale prototype has been performed and test runs under laboratory conditions are very promising. The NFR verification project includes: 1. Laboratory and full scale prototype tests 2. Development of a plan for commercial technology qualification using DNV Recommended Practice (RP) A-203 3. Verification of the business opportunity The Traction Tool addresses a global industry with an estimated annual market of NOK 3-5 billion. In addition to the North Sea, key areas for its application are the USA and Middle East.