Drilling Rental Tools & Services Drilling tools Switchblade® Stabilizer
Switchblade® Stabilizer
Switchblade Stabilizer
Like the Fixedblade Stabilizer, the Switchblade design addresses the known issues of conventional blade stabilizers. With its enhanced hydrodynamic profile and versatility, the system is deal for a field development or remote operating location as the blades are rig site replaceable to reduce unnecessary inventory and transportation costs. The outer diameter of the blades can be adjusted on the surface to cover a 1″ range. This sort of flexibility enable the onsite engineer to configure and fine-tune the BHA to cover a wide range of drilling applications.
The Switchblade tool profile is unique and its blade orientation improve BHA and drillstring stabilisation by reducing torque, drag and torsional vibrations. Which are all key causes of borehole enlargement and subsequent BHA component failure.
The enhanced hole cleaning ability limits pack off tendency, aides ECD management and minimises borehole erosion when tripping and backreaming. Better drill fluid displacement reduces the risk of swabbing and surging in comparison to conventional blade stabilisers when tripping, which is a key cause of wellbore instability.
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Features of Switchblade stabilizer
- Dome-shaped low friction interchangeable blades
- 6 points of contact (with the 12″)
- 8 point of contact (with the 16″ & 17″)
- Flow profile with optimised hydrodynamics
- Surface-adjustable gauge size
Benefits of Switchblade
- Reduced torque and drag
- Improved weight transfer & tool face control when slide drilling
- BHA vibration dampening
- Increased stability
- Resistance to balling up & packing off
- Reduced risk of swab & surge
- Minimised damage to mud cake while drilling & tripping
- Fine-tuning BHA performance with adjustable gauge size
- Interchangeable blades reduce tools turnover time and rig inventory
Switchblade Stabilizer Blades
The six or eight blade orientation and smooth dome profile have three key benefits
Improved weight transfer when slide drilling minimises hanging up, motor stalls and subsequent loss of tool face as well as the onset of excessive stick/slip in rotary mode.
The balanced front and back wellbore contact points improves stabilisation by reducing friction and dampening drillstring harmonics.
The hydrodynamic design enhances hole cleaning performance whilst optimizing vibration mitigation at source.
Taper system
The blades are independently configurable allowing the creation of a unique front or back tapered profile. This can be applied to the top string stabiliser to reduce the risk of hanging up when POOH through cutting bed accumulations and or interbedded formations.
Conversely, the tool can be installed above a motor to create a positive taper effect in wells with high dogleg angles to provide excellent weight transfer when sliding.
Operational Flexibility
The gauge is surface adjustable by 1″ in 1/8″ increments, using a combination of shims and high or low blades, eliminating the need for additional under gauge stabilizers inventory on location. This flexibility allows worn or damaged blades to be changed quickly and efficiently on location instead of being sent back to the workshop for repair.