Critical Field Innovations

	High Paying US Jobs, Economic Empowerment & Revitalization of States through Federal Power	"Critical Field" Technology Innovation & Maximized Profits on R&D and Investments	Prevention of Biochemical and Nuclear Proliferation & Homeland Security Technologies

High Paying US Jobs, Economic Empowerment

Revitalization of States through Federal Power

"Critical Field" Technology Innovation

Maximized Profits on R&D and Investments

Prevention of Biochemical and Nuclear Proliferation

Homeland Security Technologies

National Council on Innovative Technology Commercialization	International Council on Innovative Technology Commercialization	Critical Field Innovations	Commercialization Programs
			About Us

The Continuous Oil Drilling Coupler

The "Coupler" is a device developed by Maris under ITF sponsorship and supported by Shell, Statoil, BP, BG and Veba OEL.

The "coupler" enables continuous mud circulation to the drill string while making drillpipe connections.

This Joint Industry Project is now at the stage, where our partners, Varco, have completed the detail design and are constructing the prototype for trials.

Maris are continuing to develop this new "Coupler Technology" for application to UBD, ERD and HTHP wells and for many other applicationsrequiring continuous circulation and/or continuous rotation. The advantages of using the "Coupler" are as follows:

Maintains constant mud flow and cuttings mobility

reduces cuttings bed formation in lateral and ERD wells

reduces the likelihood of a stuck bit or BHA

provides an even distribution of cuttings throughout the annulus

maintains an even temperature throughout the annulus

provides a steady loading of the mud cleaning equipment

eliminates circulation time before making connections

eliminates re-drilling of settled cuttings & debris after making connections

eliminates need to circulate out accumulated gas after connections in UBD wells

Increases safety

kicks are less likely due to absence of stop/start pressure transients

kicks are easier to identify in the absence of stop/start transients

immediate response to kicks as drillpipe is always connected to the mud supply.

circulating mud pressure can be immediately adjusted while making connections

kill pressure can be maintained while re-installing drillpipe to bottom, if necessary

accurate tool joint alignment and ‘soft landing’ reduces thread damage and bad connections

In summary – The Continuous Circulation Coupler:

combines the benefits of rotary drilling with jointed drillpipe, with the benefits of coiled tubing

above benefits can save an average of as much as $1million, or more, per well drilled

is the first step towards “continuous drilling” with jointed drillpipe

is an enabling technology

Joint Industry Project – sponsored by ITF and supported by: