BiSN Downhole Sealing Solutions
BiSN is a leading provider of metal to metal downhole sealing solutions to the oil and gas industry, utilising our groundbreaking modified thermite heater. We are breaking the mould of traditional elastomer seals and cement.
Meet the BiSN Team
Our employees are the core of BiSN, and it is their passion and drive that makes our mission possible. Because the people are what make our company what it is, we wanted to introduce our employees through a ‘Meet the BiSN Team’ series which will profile many of our talented workforce and give a bit of an insight to what they do for us on a day-to-day basis. We recently spoke to David Ford, our Asset Manager.
Downhole Sealing Solutions Provider
BiSN is bringing new perspectives to solve age old problems in oil and gas downhole sealing solutions technology. BiSN has manufacturing and assembly facilities in the North West England, UK and Houston USA, the UK also has a specialist alloy development laboratory.
The Houston site opened in 2015 and comprises a 30,000 sq ft testing facility, with the capability to pressure test at up to 10,000psi and 150°C. Adding to the ever rising credibility of BiSN we were the winners of the 2017 ICOTA Innovation Award and in March 2018 we were awarded the Innovator Award and Great Company Award (SME) at this year’s Offshore Achievement Awards (OAA)
Specialists at BiSN
Our engineering team at BiSN consists of downhole engineers and technicians with over 200 years downhole tool experience. This engineering expertise is supported by a dedicated team of CAD designers, metallurgists, thermite specialists and offshore personnel.
What is the BiSN Technology?
The uniquely developed BiSN technology is called Wel-lok M2M™. Simply put this means sealing the well with metal to metal. It has been run in numerous locations around the world in both on and offshore environments, see some of our case studies for more details.
Technology
Development
Using bismuth based alloys to seal in downhole conditions was first tried by the Schlumberger brothers back in 1930s, using electrical heaters. It was continually tried using electrical heaters through the 1960s to 1990s, but without realistic practical implementation due to the time it takes for the heating process to take effect, as well as limitations on deployment depth and the specialist wireline equipment required to run the electrical heaters at that time.
What we do differently at BiSN is we use modified thermite heaters, which makes this a game changing technology reducing the heating time required from hours to minutes and eliminates the need for any specialist wireline equipment, with no restriction on deployment depth.
Key Benefits of
Wel-lok M2M™
Safer than traditional plugging and sealing methods
Improved environmental implications
Extends the life of the well
Helps to increase the ratio of oil to water extracted
Reversible Sealing Solution without drilling out
Increased productivity = increased profit
Increased efficiency = increased profit
How does it work?
Using a modified thermite powered chemical reaction heater may sound scientifically technical and whilst the concept is innovative, it is relatively easy to explain;
The bismuth based alloys are run in hole (RIH) using various tools depending on the application
Once located at the depth in the well where the sealing is required, a modified thermite powered chemical reaction heater is utilised to heat the alloy until it melts. The chemical reaction heater can be run on any standard wire equipment without the need for any modifications. The power required to start the reaction is 240 volts and 60 millamps for approximately 15 seconds
The molten alloy has a viscosity similar to water which allows it to flow and fill the void it is intended to seal.
It then sets as it cools producing seamless downhole sealing solutions for a variety of applications within 30 minutes. This unique sealing technology can be applied in the drilling, completions, interventions or abandonment stages of a well.
Innovative and Reactive
Our key attribute is our employees, BiSN is an innovative and dynamic organisation providing new solutions to some age old problems within the oil and gas industry. We are able to react to market demands and our engineers are finding multiple applications for our unique sealing Wel-lok M2M™ technology.
Research and development creating solutions for our partners
As world leaders in the use of bismuth based alloys and thermite in the downhole environment BiSN has a portfolio of products aimed at tackling some of the most difficult issues faced by the oil and gas industry. We pride ourselves in building a responsive long term working relationship with our customers and working closely with them to provide innovative solutions.
In summary
BiSN has developed a revolutionary chemical reaction heater that brings the technology into the 21st century and opens the door to a range of applications previously thought impossible. This new and unique technology is changing the way downhole sealing has been carried out for over 100 years.
Whether you are a field, interventions or completions engineer, or if you are involved in the planning of complex P&A operations, we believe at BiSN that with the
Wel-lok M2M™ technology, you are looking at the future solution for all downhole sealing and plugging problems.