Don't let one of the least expensive parts on your MWD tool be the reason for downtime.

We've gone the extra mile to reduce the likelihood of rubber fin fractures and debonding. As a result, you and your customer can have a little more confidence when drilling toward your targeted reservoir.

Having issues with your centralizer fins?

After months of research and collaboration with drilling engineers, directional companies, rubber compounder’s and bonding agent suppliers, we were able to narrow down the primary reason why the rubber on fins fail: SWELL. Swell can produce too much interference between the fin and the tool carrier, increasing friction, compounding the swell issue and ultimately leading to fin fractures. When this happens, the fin loses its ability to keep the tool centred, creating lateral shock and potentially damaging the electronics and battery on the tool string. In addition, if the swell is bad enough, it can compromise the bond, and the rubber can rip off altogether, causing a whole host of issues, such as ending up in the impeller and damaging the RSS.

Swell is also an inescapable consequence of exposure to oil-based mud (OBM). To explain, we analyzed three different HNBR compounds at 100 degrees Celsius, under 3000 psi, for 48 hours in different OBMs. The compounds tested were standard formulations of HNBR and a unique blend with added co-agents that boost hydrophobicity. Unexpectedly, all three compounds saw significant changes in physical properties that included:

an average reduction of around 7 points on the durometer

an average increase of almost 5% in thickness

and about a 10% weight gain.

These changes occurred after only two days of exposure, so when you factor in the aggressive nature of the actual application, these compounds can take a significant beating.