NORTHSTAR DOWNHOLE SPECIALISTS
BRIDGING THE GAP IN WELL INTERVENTION
Powered by Inside America
insideAMERICAMAG.com
NORTHSTAR DOWNHOLE SPECIALISTS
I PROFILE
For more than 40 years, Northstar Downhole Specialists has provided customers with first class downhole solutions. Now, following the decision to diversify its capabilities, the company is exploring a new area. President Keith Marshall and Vice President Dave Sudlow explained more about this development, in an exclusive interview with Imogen Ward.
82 Inside america
ounded in 1979, Northstar Downhole
F
potential of their projects. From downhole
Specialists built a solid reputation
reservoir testing to measurements and
within the world of oil and gas.
sampling, the company tests all its products
“Northstar Downhole Specialists existed
to the highest standards to ensure they can
as a global oilfield service company
withstand the toughest conditions.
dedicated to downhole testing,” President
As experts in all things downhole,
Keith Marshall explained. “We have worked
Northstar is often relied upon to come up
in more than 26 countries, supporting
with solutions for new reservoir challenges.
reservoirs in whatever way possible.
“Some great examples of areas we have
“More recently though, we made the
worked in are hydrogen storage, carbon
strategic decision to expand our capabili-
capture, geothermal, and helium,” said
ties following the development of several
Vice President Dave Sudlow. “We have a
new products.”
basket of tools that can plug into different
Over the years, the company has
markets, because the clients are always
developed a comprehensive set of solutions
looking for the same thing: permeability.
that ensure customers can unlock the full
Customers either want a reservoir with lots
Inside america 83
NORTHSTAR DOWNHOLE SPECIALISTS
I PROFILE
of permeability that will be able to store a
“The lack of response made us realize
large volume, or a cap rock with extremely
that the product didn’t exist yet,” said
low permeability, so the gas is free flowing.
Mr. Marshall. “The company was looking
“The current challenge we are facing
for a retrievable bridge plug that was
revolves around hydrogen. As the smallest
rated for 300 Fahrenheit and 15,000psi,
molecule that exists, it is the hardest to con-
which is incredibly difficult to achieve.”
tain. So, we have completed a case study
Having previously developed a highly
exploring the viability of hydrogen storage.”
successful high pressure, high temperature
Northstar recently collaborated with
packer designed for seven inch casing, the
Mitsubishi Power Americas and Texas Brine
company realized that there was potential
Company to evaluate the effectiveness of
to convert this design to meet the needs of
its inflatable packer system during DFIT and
the memorandum.
DFIT Flowback tests. The outcome was
The packer was first developed back in
positive, with the system providing reliable
2012 and has evolved several times over
pressure-time data results, which helped to
the years following the advancement of
prove the suitability of hydrogen storage.
additive manufacturing. After realizing what a gem of a design the company
Exploring well intervention
had, it applied for patents in 55 countries
With the ongoing success of its products,
including the United States.
Northstar made the strategic decision to expand into a new area of expertise.
Evolving the packer
Without prior experience in well interven-
When assessing the capabilities of its
tion, the company responded to an
packer, Northstar soon realized that it could
open memorandum.
scale the design down to fit a much smaller
Initially, sitting unanswered for
casing of four and a half inches, which would
several years, the memorandum was
meet the needs of the outstanding memo-
looking for a four and a half inch high
randum. With a vision in mind, the company
pressure bridge plug.
set to work adapting its patented design.
84 Inside america
“There wasn’t anything available
“Trying to achieve 15,000psi was difficult,”
in the market like our bridge plug, ODIN,”
Mr. Marshall added. “People can achieve
Mr. Sudlow explained. “We successfully
5,000 or 10,000, but to hit that 15,000
tested the plug at 10,000psi and 300
benchmark is hard, because there are
Fahrenheit whilst implementing a signifi-
standards and specifications that need to
cant temperature drop. This is the stage
be followed. Our in-house testing facilities
where most products fail because the
have been an essential element in building
temperature drop causes everything
up towards this new standard.”
to shrink, and that can lead to leaks.
ODIN was successfully developed as
We have successfully dropped the
a highly flexible retrievable bridge plug,
temperature by 150 degrees, which is
featuring Northstar’s patented Stellar
a significant achievement.”
support technology. ODIN can maintain
Inside america 85
NORTHSTAR DOWNHOLE SPECIALISTS
I PROFILE
optimal performance in the toughest
“It is not long-range, but it can communi-
environmental conditions, relying on
cate from depths of up to 150 meters.
a single line for support. To retrieve the
Using a steel pipe, the TAG can commu-
product, the operator simply needs to
nicate the pressure and temperature
complete two straight pulls, making it
levels to operators on the surface and
user friendly and highly efficient.
is also able of sending commands to different tools.”
Introducing TAG
Although the range of the product is
Taking a further step into the world of well
limited to 150 meters, additional TAGs
intervention, Northstar developed the Tiny
can be used to successfully extend this
Acoustic Gizmo (TAG) – perfect for barrier
range. Northstar is now in the process
detection during drilling. This short hop
of applying this product to as many
wireless transceiver is compact and
applications as possible.
cost-effective. Getting its power supply
With its entrance into well intervention
from AA batteries, the product is designed
a roaring success, Northstar intends to
to have low power consumption. As an
grow its product portfolio even further.
added bonus, TAG’s impressively small
“Our next big push is to exploit the
diameter makes it the perfect portable
patent,” said Mr. Sudlow. “We intend to
tool for any well operator.
take our bridge plug and packers and
“Our Tiny Acoustic Gizmo is a wireless two way transceiver,” Mr. Sudlow continued.
86 Inside america
develop different sizes to address some of the pressing needs of the industry.”
When reflecting on Northstar’s continued success, Mr. Marshall made it clear that none of it would be possible without the support of its partners: “Part of the reason that we have remained in the downhole market is because it’s the hardest place to play, and we have always done so successfully. Our partnerships are a huge part of that. We partner with local companies, who really help us compete against the big players. “Now, we are partnering with subcompo-
don’t always have the knowledge needed
nent experts to develop new solutions rather
for certain projects, and that’s where our
than trying to develop it all ourselves. We
partners really shine through.”
n
Inside america 87