CHURCHILL Drilling Tools, the provider of dart activated drilling tools, is celebrating the 500th deployment of its DAV MX (mechanical extrusion) CircSub valve.

The company, which is located in Houston and Aberdeen in the UK, has forged a sound reputation in the Gulf of Mexico, where its dart activation technology has been recognised for its versatility, capability and reliability in challenging environments.

Churchill’s patented dart technology continues to go from strength to strength and has already proven its capability and adaptability in the Gulf.

The only valve technology that can work effectively in managed pressure drilling situations, the DAV MX was recently selected by an operator for a dual gradient drilling project, and last year it was deployed at a record depth of 26,012 ft in a development well off Louisiana.

The DAV MX has completed 500 runs in key production locations around the world within five years and in this time has set several new industry records. Churchill Drilling Tools’ director Mike Churchill says: “Our technology is now well proven and is effectively changing the way the drilling industry conducts certain operations.

“The 500th run of the DAV MX, in particular, cured 400 bbls per hour losses for an operator by allowing more than 400 bbls of coarse lost circulation material through. “This is a testament to Churchill’s hard work and really enforces our position as having the CircSub of choice for spotting LCM.”

Outside of the US, the DAV MX was activated a record five times to displace drilling fluids within a complex high-pressure, high-temperature well in the North Sea.

This allowed the operator to pump at higher flow rates, saving a considerable time and cost.

The DAV MX also recently set a new high-angle record, being deployed in a 98-deg angle well and proving to be a helpful contingency tool in curing unexpected losses. The tool was cycled twice with Churchill’s Standard Diverter Darts, allowing a total of 90 bbls of lost LCM to be pumped through it.