If one considers the drillbit to be the tip of the driller’s spear, then the drilling motor is the oomph that drives it. Chewing through expanses of nearly impenetrable rock at faster speeds for longer intervals puts tremendous pressure on the bit, motor and more. Through advancements in engineering and manufacturing technologies, the design and development of drilling motors has improved significantly. Those advancements are set to continue with the opening of a new manufacturing and technology center by Baker Hughes, a GE company (BHGE), that is dedicated to advancing the performance, quality and reliability of downhole drilling motors.
In April the BHGE Motor Center of Excellence (COE) opened in Oklahoma City. To address the challenges placed on drilling motors to drill faster and longer, the company will incorporate “cutting-edge robotics, automation and process control to create a step change in drilling motor precision and quality,” according to a press release.
“We are excited to open the Motor Center of Excellence in Oklahoma City, in the heart of North America—the world’s largest market for drilling motors,” said Maria Claudia Borras, president and CEO for Oilfield Services at BHGE, in the release. “The technologies and engineered solutions we develop here will drive smarter well construction and deliver better drilling efficiencies to our customers throughout the world. We’re proud of the facility and the potential it brings.”
According to the company, advanced monitoring systems and a state-of-the-art plant control center at the Motor COE will enable BHGE to design and manufacture drilling motors to exacting tolerances, resulting in better motor quality. Co-located on BHGE’s Oklahoma City Supercenter campus, the 11,891-sq-m (128,000-sq-ft) facility includes manufacturing, engineering, repair and maintenance as well as an elastomer and materials laboratory.
At the grand opening of the Motor COE, the company’s next-generation Navi-Drill DuraMax high-performance motors also were introduced. The redesigned line of motors provides increased horsepower and torque. The Navi-Drill DuraMax motor will be manufactured and maintained at the Motor COE, according to the release.
The Motor COE is the newest of research and technology centers for the company. Other centers include the Artificial Lift Research & Technology Center located in Claremore, Okla., for the R&D of electric submersible pumping systems under extreme downhole conditions. Researchers at the company’s Celle Technology Center located in Celle, Germany, perform engineering and testing of drilling systems, telemetry and LWD systems.
Recommended Reading
E&P Highlights: Sep. 2, 2024
2024-09-03 - Here's a roundup of the latest E&P headlines, with Valeura increasing production at their Nong Yao C development and Oceaneering securing several contracts in the U.K. North Sea.
Breakthroughs in the Energy Industry’s Contact Sport, Geophysics
2024-09-05 - At the 2024 IMAGE Conference, Shell’s Bill Langin showcased how industry advances in seismic technology has unlocked key areas in the Gulf of Mexico.
Interoil to Boost Production in Ecopetrol Fields
2024-09-03 - Interoil will reopen shut-in wells at three onshore fields, which are under contract by Ecopetrol.
Chevron Boosts Oil, NatGas Recovery in Gulf of Mexico
2024-09-03 - Chevron’s Jack/St. Malo and Tahiti facilities have produced 400 MMboe and 500 MMboe, respectively.
CNOOC Makes Ultra-deepwater Discovery in the Pearl River Mouth Basin
2024-09-11 - CNOOC drilled a natural gas well in the ultra-deepwater area of the Liwan 4-1 structure in the Pearl River Mouth Basin. The well marks the first major breakthrough in China’s ultra-deepwater carbonate exploration.
Comments
Add new comment
This conversation is moderated according to Hart Energy community rules. Please read the rules before joining the discussion. If you’re experiencing any technical problems, please contact our customer care team.