Paradigm Drilling Services Limited - the development of a novel rotary well tractor capable of operating both within well liners and fresh borehole environments. To extend the reach and effectiveness of ERD wells

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Horizontal drilling of reservoir rock increases oil and gas production and has become morecommon as a result. Techniques are being used to extend the area of coverage that can beachieved from a single location, enabling bypassed or small deposits to be accessed which arebeyond the reach of conventional drilling. Most wells are completed using the weight oftubulars in the vertical or near vertical section of hole to apply the pushing forces required toapply weight to the drill bit. The project aim is to develop a suite of rotationally poweredtractors that operate as a part of a drill string or completion string utilising the power providedby string rotation and a drilling motor. This type of tractor has multiple uses in that it couldprovide thrust or traction forces to deploy long sections of casing or liner for the completionof ERD wells: also, they could provide sacrificial mud motor driven assemblies to pullintelligent well completions through long sections of cased, lined or open hole reservoirformations. Mud lubricated bearings utilised in a system that can cope with the aggressivenature of drilling muds and completion fluids and yet still operate effectively requiredevelopment. These bearings also need to survive in high pH and elevated temperatureconditions to achieve their desired long life. Innovation is associated with the two keyobjectives; the concept of a rotary drilling tractor has never been explored and as such isextremely innovative. The other key area of innovation is the aforementioned bearingdevelopment that can survive high pH, elevated temperature (up to 2000C), high viscosity andwear from the ingress drilling muds containing grit, sand & rock chippings. The main benefitis for producers who wish to explore more remote hydrocarbon deposits. Utilising existing surface infrastructure with the use of rotary tractors will ensure hydrocarbon resources can continue to be extracted in a cost effective manner. Users ultimately benefit