Alcoa Oil & Gas was awarded a contract from Pennsylvania
General Energy (PGE) to produce 3,500 feet of aluminum-alloy drill pipe for gas
drilling in the Marcellus Shale formation of central Pennsylvania. Alcoa’s
4.5-inch drill pipe will extend the reach of the carrier-mounted drilling rig
used on natural gas wells in the Marcellus Shale formation to a total depth of
approximately 7,500 feet. This is 1,000 feet deeper than conventional steel
drill pipe can penetrate without using larger, more costly rigs.
Alcoa’s innovative drill pipe is a tapered, high-strength, aluminum-alloy tube
coupled with proprietary thermal-connection technology that allows steel tool
joints to attach to the aluminum pipe’s body. This feature optimizes the pipe’s
strength-to-weight ratio and gives it the capability to be used with steel
pipe. Alcoa’s pipe design and unique aluminum construction make it up to 50%
lighter than steel pipe, yet it maintains the durability and strength of steel.
The Alcoa pipe significantly increases a rig’s operating efficiency while
allowing for deeper drilling.
Alcoa Wins Contract to Supply Pipe for Marcellus Shale
August 14, 2012
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