Mar 26 2014
Varel International, the world’s largest independent supplier of drill bits for the oil, gas and mining industries, announces the launch of SlipStream™ RC Pro completion roller cone drill bits. Designed for the fast and effective drill out of frac plugs, SlipStream RC Pro incorporates a unique, hybrid cutting structure matched specifically to the distribution of high hardness, high abrasion, and elastic or plastic materials found in such plugs.
This industry first completion product utilizes an array of Varel International’s proprietary technologies, including:
- Patent pending hybrid cutting action combining tungsten carbide insert outer rows and mill tooth inner rows
- Elastomeric components specifically engineered to provide enhanced resistance to attack by common completion chemicals
- Patented High Energy™ journal bearing sealing system and patented Pressure Attenuation journal bearing design
Michael Reeves, president of Varel International Oil & Gas, described the SlipStream product family as a definitive enhancement to the company’s broad offering of products for completion and workover drilling, “Varel has long been known for building highly reliable workover and completions drilling bits. However, with SlipStream RC Pro we have created a novel solution to the specific challenges of frac plug drilling which will deliver enhanced performance and value to our customers.”
With this product offering the company has addressed the challenges of drilling through frac plugs which have multiple components of varying drillability. The combination of an outer cutting structure comprised of patented HET™ tungsten carbide inserts and a tightly spaced inner cutting structure with DuraClad™ mill tooth technology provides different drilling actions targeted specifically to the assorted materials within the frac plug.
Reeves continued, “This patent pending cutting structure has been mounted on the industry’s most advanced small diameter high speed bearing package and is complemented by chemically resistant compensation components. We at Varel are extremely pleased to offer our completion customers a product that delivers superior performance and durability in the often corrosive, chemical-laden frac plug drilling environment.”
In field tests, the new SlipStream RC Pro products have been drilling plugs up to 70% faster than typical all mill tooth or all insert cutting structures.
Source: http://www.varelintl.com/