Deep Casing Tools (DCT), a UK based technology developer, expands their offering into decommissioning with the Casing Cement Breaker (CCB) in response to the global industry need for unique solutions across the well life cycle.
The CCB, awarded ‘Emerging Technology’ at the Offshore Achievement Awards in 2020, can transform both plug and abandonment and slot recovery, improving the efficiency and predictability of cut and pull or perf and squeeze operations.
The tool uses simple pressure and rotation to manipulate existing casing strings, cleverly breaking the bond between cement and casing, making it easier to remove casing quickly and more efficiently. This avoids the need for costly milling operation and subsequent loss of time issues, guaranteeing pulling success rates.
DCT’s sales and marketing manager, Edward Kerr said: “Introduction of the CCB into our existing portfolio of efficiency focused technologies further cements our platform for future development of the company, opening up new opportunities within the decommissioning sector and enabling our clients to reduce emissions, contributing to the energy transition as we drive to a global net zero target.”
In early trial runs, with Equinor, the tool demonstrated a project time reduction of at least 10 days compared to the use of other, conventional technologies. This significant reduction in time meant that the tool could save at least 3,000MT CO2 emissions on an offshore platform, 700MT CO2 on an offshore semi-submersible platform and 300MT CO2 on a land rig.
Edward Kerr also said: “We aim to help companies, globally, on their energy transition journey, providing simple, sustainable innovation that deliver time savings, cost efficiencies, and reduce emissions across all well operations, supporting the UK government’s target of reaching net zero by 2050. The CCB is one of many technologies within our suite that achieve this.”
A major national oil company has now confirmed that the CCB is ready for trial runs following the successful 20hr endurance test in Norway earlier this year.
Alan Glen, product line manager at DCT said: “This is exciting news for the team at DCT as we edge closer to the commercialisation of this revolutionary slot recovery, well plug and abandonment technology.”