Case Study: Alpine Specialty Chemicals Ltd. cuts liner running time with SLB's Alpine Premium Spotting Beads

Alpine Premium Spotting Beads Slashes Time to Run Liner in Panhandle Well

Alpine Specialty Chemicals Ltd. worked with SLB to address the challenge of running a production liner to bottom in a Wheeler County, Texas Granite Wash well. In this water-based mud environment, the liner typically had to be rotated 20 to 30 stands off bottom even when lubricants were used, adding time and cost to the completion.

SLB recommended spotting 12 lb/bbl of Alpine Premium Spotting Beads, a spherical co-polymer bead designed to reduce torque and drag and lower the risk of differential sticking. The liner was run to bottom without stopping to rotate, was circulated and cemented successfully, and the operator cut six hours from the liner-running operation. At a rig rate of $3,000 per hour, this delivered a cumulative savings of $14,500 after the $3,500 bead cost.

Alpine Specialty Chemicals Ltd.

Steve Lubinski

Drilling Engineer