A downhole stabilizer is a piece of downhole equipment used in the bottom hole assembly (BHA) of a drill string. It mechanically stabilizes the BHA in the borehole in order to avoid unintentional sidetracking, vibrations, and ensure the quality of the hole being drilled.It is composed of a hollow cylindrical body and stabilizing blades, both made of high-strength steel. The blades can be either straight or spiralled, and are hardfaced for wear resistance.
There are mainly three types of drilling stabilizers used in the oilfield today.
1. Integral stabilizer, which is fully machined out of a single piece of steel. This type tend to be norm and widely used.
2. Replaceable sleeve stabilizer, where the blades are located on a sleeve, which is then screwed on the body. This type can be economical when no repair facilities are available close to the well being drilled.
3. Welded blades stabilizer, where blades are welded onto the body. This type is usually not advised on oil wells due to the risks of losing blades, but is regularly used when drilling water wells or on low-cost oilfields.
Usually 2 to 3 stabilizers are fitted into the BHA, including one just above the drill bit (near-bit stabilizer) and one or two among the drill collars (string stabilizers).
While drilling operations can be complex and risky, the use of a drilling stabilizer significantly reduces the risk of drilling issues, ensuring that the drilling process runs smoothly and efficiently.
Vigor always insists on doing high-quality service and high-quality products, if you are interested in oil and gas downhole tools, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
Post time: Dec-03-2023
