Introduction:

Nonrotating Drillpipe Protectors enable energy companies to drill the world’s most challenging wells, including extended-reach, high-angle, deepwater and directional wells, more effectively and efficiently by providing benefits that can result in potential savings in time, equipment and money.

Pioneered by WWT more than a decade ago and field-proven in more than 600 wells, WWT Protectors have become the industry standard as a mechanical means of addressing wellbore problems during drilling operations.

Major operators and turnkey drilling contractors the world over can attest to the value of the WWT Protector as the best solution for controlling rotary torque, casing wear, buckling and other related problems downhole. No other projector on the market measures up; Western Well Tool's patented fluid bearing technology is what makes the difference.

Torque is one factor that influences drilling productivity. Torque is a direct function of the radius of the rotating object: Torque = Radius x (Side Load x Coefficient of Friction). In drilling, the effective radius is half of the outside diameter (OD) of the drillpipe tool joint. When conventional protectors are used, the effective radius is half of the OD of the protector.

With WWT Protectors, the drillpipe rotates inside the Protector sleeve, changing the effective radius to that of the drillpipe body in- stead of the tool joint. This decrease in effective radius causes a proportional decrease in torque. Torque is also a direct function of the coefficient of friction (CoF) between the two contacting surfaces. As mentioned before, Western Weil Tool's patented fluid bearing can reduce the CoF for drillpipe rotation to one-tenth that of steel on steel. Typically, the higher the torque is in the well, the greater the percentage of reduction. WWT Protectors can reduce rotary torque up to 50%.

By decreasing torque, WWT Protectors also:

• Allow more energy to be transmitted to the drill bit so significantly higher rates of penetration (ROP) can be achieved
• Decrease the need for expensive, less commonly used equipment such as more powerful surface units, larger OD drillpipe, oversized tool joints and aluminum drillpipe
• Reduce the use of costly and/or environmentally sensitive lubricants and oil-based fluids
• Improve tool-face alignment and, as a result, directional control
• Facilitate difficult drilling operations such as sidetracking and sensitive coring operations.

The need for casing protection is greatest when side loads are high. In this tough environment, conventional protectors have a tendency to slide up the drillpipe, away from the tool joint, or to be completely torn off because they rotate with the drillpipe and do not have the holding power of WWT Protectors.

Our durable thrust collars, which are designed to withstand axial forces many times greater than conventional protectors, hold the WWT Protectors securely in place under drilling conditions where other protectors would be lost in the hole.

Because WWT Protectors reduce wear and tear, users are better able to:

• Focus on optimizing assets, rather than solving casing wear problems
• Re-enter old, worn or corroded casing for workover operations, while minimizing the possibility of causing additional damage.

Companies using W\NT Nonrotating Drillpipe Casing Protectors when drilling may also experience a number of other benefits. WWT Protectors:

Because the OD of WWT Protectors is greater than that of the drillpipe, the Protectors centralize the drillstring in the wellbore. This ability, combined with the Protectors' energy-absorbing construction, reduces drillstring whip, vibration and flexing fatigue, and accelerates drilling.

The high-strength design and construction of WWT Protectors can handle up to 30,000 pounds of axial force and up to 2,500 pounds of normal force, depending on the size selected. With proper placement, WWT Protectors can effectively stiffen the drillstring by minimizing deflection at the center of the drillpipe, increasing resistance to buckling.

Readily available in diameters to fit all standard drillpipe sizes, WWT Protectors are easily installed by our service technicians and require no extra connections on the drillstring rig. They operate with equal effectiveness in oil-based, water-based and mineral-based drilling fluids.

Unlike sub-type protectors, which require additional connections within the drillstring and have a limited placement frequency, WWT Protectors are designed to be installed directly onto the drillpipe body, thereby enabling the drillstring to maintain its all-important, inherent flexibility. Protector placement frequency required to meet various contact-force values is not restricted.

WWT Protectors have an average of five times the life of conventional protectors when used within design parameters. One reason for this is the fact that our Protectors do not rotate with the drillpipe or against the casing wall, so their exterior surface is not worn down by rotational friction. Also, there is no "stretching" involved in installation that would stress the Protector. Another reason for their longevity is the patented internal fluid bearing. This unique feature eliminates internal wear.

WWT provides complete technical support, from making specific engineering recommendations through onsite service. We have representatives worldwide, and our research and development center is actively working to enhance our Protector, as industry needs change. Even in the most remote, harshest locations, we are ready to serve, whenever and wherever needed.

To ensure the effectiveness of our Protectors, our engineering personnel prepare a comprehensive analysis of each well. We use the most advanced torque and drag software, in combination with our own propriety programs, for maximum accuracy. The amount and locations of contact force between the drillstring and casing are assessed to determine the optimum number and placement of Protectors.

We also draw upon the wealth of experience we have gathered during the past 10 years, in more than 600 wells worldwide. Well analysis and placement recommendations we performed free of charge.