| Our well intervention
segment operated a fleet of 15 snubbing units as of June 30, 2006. We primarily provide snubbing services utilizing specialized
high pressure snubbing equipment that allows an operator to service
a well without using other more disruptive means to control the
pressure in the well. Since snubbing is a difficult and critical
process, the snubbing segment of the natural gas and oil services
industry is limited to a relatively few operators who have the
expertise and knowledge required to perform such services safely
and efficiently. Our well intervention segment also includes
other related oil field services, such as freezing services,
hot tapping services, rental tools and fishing services. In the
future, we plan to add complementary well intervention services,
such as coiled tubing, nitrogen pumping and fluid pumping services.
Snubbing Services. Snubbing
services use specialized hydraulic well service units that permit
an operator to complete under balanced wells and repair damaged
casing, production tubing and down hole production equipment in
high-pressure, "live-well" environments.
A snubbing unit makes it possible to remove and replace down hole
equipment while maintaining pressure in the well. Customers benefit
because these operations can be performed without killing the well
with heavy fluids, which can damage the productive formations,
and because a snubbing rig can perform many applications at a lower
cost than other alternatives. Since snubbing is difficult to perform,
the snubbing segment of the natural gas and oil services industry
is limited to a relatively few operators who have the experience
and knowledge required to perform such services safely and efficiently.
Applications for snubbing units include "live-well" completions
and workhouses, underground blowout control, under balanced completions,
under balanced drilling and the running of tubing, casing or drill pipe
into or out of the pressurized wellbore.
Freezing Services. Freezing technology provides wellhead
and pipe operations with pressure control and isolation for service
and maintenance. Freezing technology involves setting a bentonite
gel plug by freezing it in place. Freezing is an economic, temporary
and non damaging technology often used with other services, such
as hot tapping. It is quickly deployed and applied for fast response,
does not damage installations and does not require kill fluids.
Freezing technology applications include changing or repairing
damaged valves, entire wellheads and controlling pressure in tubing
or pipelines.
Hot Tapping Services. Our
hot tapping services are used to access a contained area that
is or may be holding pressure. The procedure can be designed
to release the pressure and contents, or in the case of a loaded
pipeline, provide access through a valve. Hot tapping is used
in a variety of applications, including coiled tubing, wellheads,
valves, tubing, drill pipe and drill collars. Our experienced
well service personnel can be dispatched 24 hours
a day with hot tap drills and the related equipment. Our hot tap
equipment can be easily transported by truck, in well service freeze
units, or by third-party helicopter.
Rental Tool Services. We rent specialized equipment and
tools for the drilling, completion and workover of onshore and
offshore natural gas and oil wells. Natural gas and oil producers
and drilling contractors often find it more economical to supplement
their inventories of tools, drill pipe and other specialized equipment
with rental equipment.
We offer a broad range of rental tools, including:
- pressure control equipment;
- drill string equipment;
- pipe handling equipment;
- fishing and down hole tools;
- stabilizers;
- power swivels;
- bottom-hole assemblies;
- handling tools;
- test pumps;
- tubular handling tools; and
- hydraulic torque wrenches.
Fishing Services. We
provide highly skilled down hole services, including fishing,
milling and cutting services, which consist of removing or otherwise
eliminating "fish" or "junk" (a
piece of equipment, a tool, a part of the drill string or debris)
in a well that is causing an obstruction.
Coiled Tubing, Nitrogen Pumping
and Fluid Pumping. We
are also planning to enter complimentary well intervention product
lines in 2006, including coiled tubing, nitrogen pumping and fluid
pumping. Coiled tubing units compliment our snubbing units, providing
an alternative conveyance system to deliver completion and workover
services. The addition of nitrogen and fluid pumping services to
our well intervention segment takes advantage of the synergies
with our snubbing and coiled tubing units, which are used to deploy
nitrogen and fluids into wells during completion and workover activities.
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