The annual IChemE awards programme promotes and rewards innovation and excellence in the process industries. Part of the awards programme is the Amec award which gives special recognition to SMEs making new and exciting contributions to the oil & gas industry. The prestigious award was given to Pilot Drilling Control Ltd on 26 June 2003 at a gala awards dinner in Alexandra Palace in recognition of our Harmonic Isolation Tool which decouples the various modes of vibration between the drill bit and the drill string. The Harmonic Isolation tool has been used for both types of drill bits; solid cutter and insert bits, and has shown the capablilty of increasing the drilling envelope for these bit types into the range only normally associated with insert bits; for formation with sonic values down to 50msec/ft.
The importance of its shock absorbing properties lay within the design of the tool and the elastomeric material used. The tool has rubber type isolating areas within the tool to reduce the transmission and levels of vibrations in all three planes.
The tool was made reliable and possible for downhole deployment by using a unique formulation of elastomeric compound material, which was designed and developed in conjunction with RubberAtkins Aberdeen. This material enhanced the dynamic strength and tear resistance at elevated temperature and under oil immersed environment. The material developed has shown outstanding shock absorbing properties providing a unique solution to a long outstanding problem in downhole drilling dynamics.
We were thrilled to accept this award and especially happy that it was the Harmonic Isolation Tool that was the cause. Our hope is that the wider industry will embrace the tool and realise the benefits to be gained from it. George Swietlik, Managing Director of Pilot Drilling Control Ltd.