Of all the components involved in running tubulars the Cinderella of the operation is the casing centralizer. Unexciting, unnoticed and occasionally unattached, the humble centralizer usually goes unremarked until it fails or a centralization problem occurs.

The purpose of a centralizer is to centre the casing in the wellbore so as to allow cement to circulate freely around the tubular and produce a robust cement seal, ensuring zonal isolation. Not rocket science, but if the centralizer isn’t strong enough to centre the pipe, or if it breaks, the consequences can be very expensive. If it breaks in a deviated well, centralization is usually completely lost rendering effective cementation impossible added to which the centralizer may jam the pipe down hole. Stuck drill strings are one of the major contributors to drilling downtime, and a common cause of sticking down hole is a failed centralizer. A conservative estimate is that annually, 400 wells worldwide are affected by centralizer problems, at an average cost per well of around $1.5M producing a total annual loss of $0.6B. A loss which is largely preventable. Read complete article

April 2008 - Queens Award Winners!

Centek is pleased to announce that it has won the Queens Award for Enterprise 2008. This is the UK’s most prestigious award for business performance and has been given for outstanding achievement in international trade.

We would primarily like to thank our loyal customers, without whom, this would not have been achieved.

This award not only enhances our reputation and credibility as a hugely successful and innovative company within our industry, it also recognises the dedication of our talented team of staff and provides motivation for continued improvement and achievement.

Centek signs Centaliser supply agreement

Centek and a leading US oilfields services and products supplier worldwide have signed a three year global agreement for the supply of casing centralisers. 

 "We chose the Centek centralisers because they are technically proven products which have a good track record with our customers. The ability to provide good stand-off in highly deviated well-bores, while providing less drag when running into holes, means that we are providing our customers with a product which will help them get a better cement job." said a spokesman for the US Company.   

The innovative Centek S2 is a single piece bow spring centraliser, with none of the weaknesses of traditional welded or moving part bow spring centralisers, it is rapidly becoming first choice for far reach deviated wells. The S2 maximises stand-off, is flexible in tight spots and optimises flow-by area thus improving well clean-out, giving pipe rotation with reduced torque and better cementing results.

October 2007 - Centek exhibits in Kazakhstan

Centek exhibited in the UK pavilion at KIOGE (Kazakhstan International Oil and Gas Exhibition) held in Almaty. Of the 578 companies exhibiting at the show 18 were British. Visitors to the UK Pavilion included HRH Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, whi is seen here with Sales and Marketing Manager Cliff Berry and Sales Executive Rita Keylock.  

 "We found attendance at the show well worthwhile with a number of serious enquiries from the right kind of visitor," said Cliff Berry. "Prince Andrew came on the stand and showed interest in both our products and sales performance."   

The participation of UK companies was organised by the Energy Industries Council (EIC)

September 2007 - Centek tackles weak formations

Centek is introducing the Centek S2 UCF centraliser for use where casing must be run through unconsolidated formations. Centek's UCF centaliser greatly reduces the risk of damage and delays when operating in unstable strata, and can reduce bow loadings to as little as half the compressive strength of the bore wall while still providing effective centralisation.   

Unconsolidated formations (UCF) are non-stone strata like sands, gravels and clay. UCF are characterised by weak pore pressures and are prone to damage with potential downtime. Standard centalisers exert a high point of load pressure against the bore wall to ensure casing centralisation, but in a UCF section the centraliser can dig into the bore wall and the weaker the formation the greater the penetration. This leads to stand-off and rotational problems, and can cause difficulties with the formation as the centraliser and casing move through the bore. These problems are especially evident in highly deviated, extended reach wells where the full weight of the pipe and centraliser is bearing ob the lower surface of the bore.   

The S2 UCF increases the bow surface area at the point of contact by means of a specially designed, wider, load-bearing pad. Each centraliser is individually designed to take account of the size and weight of the casing being used and the compressive strength of that section of borehole. Not only must the centraliser support the pipe it must exert a lower loading on each bow than the compressive strength of the formation.   

"Our wide-bowed UCF has been successfully trialled by customers running 18 5/8" casings in top-hole sections with 1000psi formation pressure, and in long ERD 5 1/2" sections with formation pressure as low as 250psi." said Cliff Berry, Sales and Marketing Manager at Centek. "In all cases digging-in and gouging have been avoided, efficent stand-off has been maintained and the customer has got to target depth".   

The Centek S2 UCF centaliser is available now with pricing and detailed application information available from Centek.

May 2007 - Halliburton and Centek extend agreement

 In the U.K., Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) and Centek have renewed their contract for the supply of centralisers for three additional years. Since 2002, Halliburton has been the sole distributor of Centek centralisers to operating companies in the UK sector of the North Sea and Norway, during which time business has increased threefold.  

The Centek S2 centraliser, a one-piece unit, is revolutionary in its design. It has none of the design characteristics of traditional bow spring centalisers, yet it remains a bow spring centraliser and is rapidly becoming the first choice for far-reached deviated wells. The Centek Centralisers offers maximised standoff; flexibility when tight spots are encountered; maximum flow-by area, thus improving well cleanout; pipe rotation with reduced torque; and optimum cementation operations.   

"We sell the Centek product becaue its a one-piece, high-strength centraliser without the weakness of welded and non-welded types," said Johan Bakker, vice president, Europe Eurasia Region, Halliburton. "The Centek centralisers have a low profile and maximise standoff, which helps to give our customers a good cement job".

January 2007 - Centek goes Dutch!  

Centek has been appointed an approved supplier to Holland's largest domestic oil and gas operator. UK-based Centek, will supply its unique single piece Centek S2 Centraliser for use in the Southern sector of the North Sea and onshore in the Netherlands. Centek has been supplying centalisers to the company since 2002, and recently underwent a stringent approval process for contract supply. The approval process was completed at the end of 2006 and Centek now joins a list of approved suppliers from which rig team engineers can choose. 

"The customer's approval criteria are confidential, but industry standard requirements generally include a competitive price, stringent delivery criteria, API and ISO quality accreditation, technically approved and field proven and the product must be demonstrably reliable and fit for the purpose," said Cliff Berry, Sales and marketing Manager at Centek Ltd. "The contract we have just been awarded, coupled with other major European operator contracts, put us firmly in the forefront of centraliser technology and innovation. 

"Rig teams generally have a preferred centraliseror centraliser supplier. With Centek now as an approved supplier, Centek believes that the technical merits of the Centek S2 will win through in all applications such as far reach ERD wells, under-reamed sections, close tolerance and horizontal or highly deviated wells, where the S2 consistantly boots casing, liner and completion operations.

The Centek S2 bow spring centraliser is manufactured from a single piece of alloy steel, with no welds or mechanical interlocks between blades and end rings. It is then heat treated to 44-45RHC (Rockwell) to enable the unit to withstand the high loads in highly deviated boreholes. The low-friction (0.06-0.08mu) centraliser is flexible yet sufficiently robust to provide a high degree of stand-off ensuring reliable cementation and improved flow by area, along with outstanding reliability that exceeds API specification 10D