Company
18 Jan 2022
In January 2022, Deep Casing Tools changed the name of their revolutionary tool, the Casing Cement Breaker to the Rubblizer.
In this blog, CEO at Deep Casing Tools, David Stephenson answers why the decision to change the tools name was made and how the tool will continue to contribute positively to the energy sector.
The Rubblizer, formally known as the Casing Cement Breaker is Deep Casing Tools latest addition to their suite of innovative tools. Why the change in name?
“We considered changing the name of the Casing Cement Breaker for a time leading up to its readiness for field trials. Rubblizer, as the new name, was the main contender. It wasn’t until we were in discussions with a major international operator, prior to the upcoming field trial in Midland Texas, when the P&A Engineer said, "we’ll be ready to start rubblizing on Monday.” It was at this point we knew the Rubblizer was the right name for the tool."
Is it still the same technology?
“Yes, it is. It’s the same technology, same tool, just a different name. The Rubblizer has been two years in the making, we’re now at the exciting stage of getting ever closer to the commercialisation of the tool as we complete the field trial stages.
We are very proud of what the Rubblizer can achieve. An industry first, the technology behind the tool is going to revolutionise well abandonment and slot recovery operations globally. Part of a full casing recovery system, the Rubblizer makes casing recovery more efficient and cost-effective, significantly reducing rig time. Field trial results show up to 50% less force is required to pull casing after the Rubblizer has been run, compared to traditional methods. It uses simple pressure and rotation to manipulate the existing casing strings, breaking down the bond between cement and casing, rubblizing the cement. This means that far less trips are required to cut and pull, avoiding the need for costly milling operations. Using the tool also means subsequent lost time issues are minimised and pilling success rates are maximised."
How will this award-winning tool benefit the energy sector, specifically the decommissioning process?
“In 2019 we recognised a need in the market for unique solutions across the well life cycle. With this in mind, we expanded our offerings into decommissioning with the development and creation of the Rubblizer tool.
The tool will increase predictability and effectiveness of the plug & abandon process, in both cut & pull and perf & wash operations. These positive effects of the tool contribute significantly to a reduction in project time, saving more emissions globally."
Net zero is at the forefront of many people’s minds within the oil and gas industry, how will the Rubblizer play a part in the energy transition?
“Net zero remains at the forefront of everything we do. The energy transition received much focus in 2021, we predict this focus will only get stronger this year and for many years ahead, until we reach a more balanced world. We’re playing our part in this transition, helping companies across the world reach their net zero targets by providing simple, sustainable solutions, whilst providing the hydrocarbons the world needs to function.
The Rubbilizer, like all our tools and technologies, reduces emissions through increased predictability, resulting in significant project time savings. To provide an example, during the early trial runs of the Rubblizer with Equinor, we demonstrated a potential project time reduction of at least ten days compared to the use of traditional cut & pull technologies. By reducing the project time by ten days, at least 3,000MT CO2 emissions can be saved on an offshore platform, 700MT CO2 on an offshore semi-submersible platform and at least 300MT CO2 on a land rig.”
Tell us more about the field trials.
“In 2021 we confirmed field trials in Midland Texas and on an offshore platform in the Asia Pacific region. We have since confirmed further field trials in offshore Norway and Abu Dhabi, planned for Q1 2022.
In December last year, we sent the Rubblizer to West Texas (Permian Basin) for the permanent abandonment of a challenging well affected by sustained casing pressure (SCP) in multiple annuli for a super major operator. To date it has successfully rubblized and pulled the first 250ft of a 750ft job. This project is set to continue at the end of this month rubblizing the remainder of the cememt in the backside to 750ft, significantly reducing forces required to cut and pull the casing to surface, allowing the placement of a barrier plug across cap rock to isolate the shallow gas.
In January this year our second Rubblizer tool was collected by our local partner for an offshore slot recovery project in a mature field within the Asia Pacific region. It will be used to improve the efficiency and predictability of casing recovery operations, reducing the pull forces required to pull 9-5/8” casing down to 800ft with a cement bond log (CBL) reporting channelled cement from target recovery depth all the way to surface.”
Keep a look out for further positive results from the upcoming field trials and more by following the Deep Casing Tools LinkedIn page.