New steer for directional drilling

Published 24.05.2010 12:22:20 by John Bradbury

New directional drilling technology has been launched by a UK-based downhole tooling specialist firm which it says will revolutionise current practice.

AnTech's new Polaris system uses a solid state gyroscope to steer a drillbit along a well path, something which the company says has not been possible before.

After several years of research the company started development of Polaris late last year.

Now backing for the new technology has been provided with a grant of more than £100,000 from the UK's Southwest Regional Development Agency to support further development of Polaris.

“The Polaris is equipped with a solid state gyro to monitor orientation so there is no need for costly non-magnetic material or complex sensors,” AnTech says. This makes the tool shorter, and cheaper to manufacture.

AnTech managing director Toni Mizsewski explained that the money from the South West RDA was crucial in getting Polaris off the drawing board. “Without it, the development of this innovative new technology would not have been possible due to the industry downturn,” he said. “Instead, we are looking forward to making the Polaris a reality in 2010, which is very exciting, especially for the international energy industry,” he said.

While Polaris could have wide range of applications, the company says it intends to concentrate on applications in the coiled drilling market to begin with.

“Operators involved in accessing unconventional gas shales, coal bed methane and underground coal gasification will be able to use an effective directional drilling system that enables the efficiency and cost advantages of Coiled Tubing Drilling to be realised,” the company says: .

Drilling contractors have already indicated confidence in the new tool by declaring their willingness to use it for field trials in the US and Australia.

Funding from South West RDA will be used to refine the design of Polaris, and to producing a first prototype. Testing of the device will also be carried out by AnTech at its own facility in Exeter, in the UK south west.

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