A research project is planned to develop and field-test a composite drill pipe that will transmit drilling data from the bottom of the well bore to operators on the surface.
The US Department of Energy selected Advanced Composite Products & Technology Inc. (ACPT), Huntington Beach, Calif., to head a team to develop a "smart drilling system."
The 5.5-in. drill pipe would be made from a carbon fiber-epoxy resin similar to the material used in golf-club shafts. High-speed data communications capabilities would be woven into the composite material to transmit drilling information.
DOE will pay about $2.16 million toward the $2.9-million, 3-year research and development program, with ACPT providing almost $800,000 in funding and supplying equipment.
If the project is successful, DOE said the technology could be in commercial use within 3 years.
DOE said, "Composite materials offer the potential of developing lightweight drill pipe that can reduce torque and drag, particularly in difficult drilling environments. This, in turn, can increase drilling speed and lower overall costs."
It said composite pipe has been more expensive than steel, but ACPT is proposing methods that may make it cost-competitive. Small-diameter (2-in.) composite pipe is available now but may not be suitable for difficult drilling environments, such as horizontal wells.
DOE said, "By embedding an electrical wire into the composite material, developers hope to provide the capability for rapid data transmission from the bottom of the hole to the surface."
It said conventional downhole telemetry systems that use pressure pulses sent through the circulating drilling fluids to convey data are slow and limited in the amount of data that can be transmitted.
"A key technical challenge will be to develop reliable electromagnetic connectors that can maintain reliable, high-speed data flow between the sections of drill pipe."
The development consortium consists of Grant Prideco, Phillips Petroleum Co., Texaco Inc., Shell Oil Co., Chevron Corp., BP Amoco PLC, ARCO, Mobil Oil Corp., Elf Aquitaine Inc., Aramco Inc., and Aramco Services Co.