FORT WORTH, Texas, April 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Ulterra today announced the introduction of CounterForce, a breakthrough in PDC bit design technology that utilizes a unique cutter configuration that lowers bit torque and vibration, thus creating more efficient failure of rock.
Unlike traditional PDC bits, the cutters of this patent-pending, step-change advancement in new PDC technology work together to lower lateral vibration and increase crack propagation. The CounterForce cutting structure is engineered to slice through rock while maintaining a more consistent torque signature thus increasing stability and ROP. CounterForce technology improves drilling efficiency and is being incorporated into many Ulterra PDC designs.
Early field runs have shown CounterForce-designed U519M bits drilling with improved toolface control and sliding ROP. In an Eagle Ford tangent drill-out interval, a CounterForce bit set a rig ROP record drilling 41% faster than the closest offset, saving the operator 15 hours and $50,000. In a Permian Basin Wolfcamp lateral, a CounterForce run finished the lateral a dramatic 42% faster ROP than direct offsets, saving the operator an entire day of drilling. Hundreds of field tests, drilling nearly a million feet in multiple applications and plays across North America, validate that CounterForce technology consistently reduces torque and vibration problems and improves directional performance and dull conditions.
Ulterra is a leading provider of premium PDC drill bits and downhole tools for the oil and gas industry. Its strength resides in the experience and wisdom obtained from industry veterans, designing high-quality, high-performance PDC bits for global markets. Its localized focus enables Ulterra to respond quickly to customer’s specific applications with the newest technology on the market.