Solution
Due to AMC’s success on the original hole, a three month trial was to be conducted with the new AMC BOS™
AMC BOS™. The AMC BOS™ is a rapid descent, dual action in-hole casing unit which delivers a measured amount of AMC BOS FIX™ at regular intervals down the borehole. The AMC BOS UNIT™ deploys the AMC BOS FIX™ at precise locations from the bottom of the drill string into the strata and migrates into the annulus to develop a plasticising membrane on the borehole wall.
Due to formation instability in the area, the drill crew had previously implemented cementing/grouting to cure a borehole. Carrying out a cement squeeze raises the challenge of disposing of 20,000 gallons of contaminated fluids, and then requiring vacuum trucks to haul the contaminated drilling fluids off-site. In comparison, AMC’s system proved more cost-effective, with an estimated 77% saving compared to the traditional method.
In addition to the 77% saving in costs associated with a potential cement squeeze, there was also a significant productivity improvement. With the new AMC BOS™ in place, it enabled the crew to improve their rig productivity by four days over the course of drilling the borehole.
There was a significant increase in fluid returns once the new system was in place. It was not uncommon for the fluid returns to reach only a maximum of 30% prior to the introduction of the AMC BOS™, now close to 80% returns had been achieved with the new system in place. Circulation was lost on six separate occasions throughout the duration of the program and each time was regained due to targeted injections from the the AMC BOS™.
Prior to the introduction of the AMC BOS™, there were eight individual products being used on each hole. The new system provided a 50% reduction in products used, allowing the crew on-site to focus drilling through the tough formation rather than mixing mud.
