#slimhole

In wells with sucker-rod pumps, tubing anchor catchers, or TACs, can stabilize the production string. That stability creates higher pump efficiency and minimizes wear on rods, tubing, casing and the rod pump.

However, in addition to the benefits, standard B2-style TACs, along with other traditional anchor designs, are also susceptible to several common problems that can hinder production.

In the oil and gas industry, maximizing efficiency and safety are paramount. One of the critical components that contributes to these goals is the oilfield anchor. Often called a tubing anchor, tubing anchor catcher or TAC, this relatively small piece of equipment plays a significant role in ensuring the smooth operation of oil wells. This post will delve into the purpose and benefits of oilfield anchors, highlighting their importance in the extraction process.

The selection of downhole tools oil and gas operators choose has a direct impact on the Net Present Value (NPV) of the well. For instance, using a high-quality tubing anchor catcher can extend the life of a rod pump system by years, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in workover costs. Similarly, advanced MWD tools reduce drilling time, which is often the most expensive phase of a project.

Sometime in the 1590s, a guy named Shakespeare wrote, “…a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” That line from Romeo and Juliet is still used as an adage today. It teaches an important lesson: Changing an object’s name doesn’t change what it actually is. Calling a rose a stinkweed doesn’t make it smell any less aromatic. The same is true for the Slimline® Tubing Anchor Catcher. Customers may call it a “slim TAC” or a “slimhole TAC,” but the bottom line is, if it’s from TechTAC®, then you can be sure it’s the patented Slimline® anchor.

At the recent SPE Artificial Lift Conference and Expo, the TechTAC® team had a chance to interact with engineers from production companies around the world. Some of those visitors wanted to know more about the patented Slimline® TAC. Others were already customers who just stopped by to say hello and offer feedback.

One of those conversations stood out. A petroleum engineer with a Fortune 500 energy company was on his way to an education session. When he saw the TechTAC booth, he came over to greet the team, and said, “That QuickSet anchor is money! It’s been a game changer. We needed it five years ago.” He was referring to the patent-pending Slimline® QuickSet™ TAC. Turns out that anchor had been the solution to several challenging well applications for his company.

The World Economic Forum estimates that the oil industry accounts for approximately 3% of global GDP, making it one of the largest industries in the world. In the United States, that number is even higher. While energy production is the most common use of crude oil, its applications are broad. Many products in categories as diverse as plastics, chemicals, clothing and medicine rely on petroleum to deliver value to consumers.

To meet that global demand requires the efforts of many of the world’s largest corporations. The following list – taken from data posted to the CompaniesMarketcap.com website – highlights the 100 largest oil and gas companies in the world, ordered by market capitalization. While #1 on the list, Saudi Aramco, has a market cap approaching $2 trillion (yes, that trillion with a T), even #100 still boasts a multi-billion dollar market cap. Clearly, meeting the world’s energy and manufacturing demands is big business.