Business View Magazine l January 2023

22 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 12 with horizontal and directional drilling, which has allowed the domestic oil industry to boom. “While fracking has been around forever, with new developments in directional drilling, we can control where the hole goes, literally to the foot. And the operators of these drills are only improving their skills. They can now get the same production capacity from one borehole that used to require 10 - 20,” says Davis. Casing Specialties has been able to identify that the improvement in horizontal and directional drilling, fracking, frack solutions, and frack sands has meant a better demand for tubular running companies. While a part of the drilling process, Casing Specialties considers their role of successfully casing the hole the most crucial part. There is no way to redo the casing lining if an issue occurs. For the well to operate efficiently, it hinges on an excellent casing run. This drive for perfection is the key to the company’s success and is crucial for the entire energy process. In 2022, the company completed many fiber optic jobs and is looking to become more specialized in the installation process. The fiber optics that Casing Specialties refers to aren’t the telecommunication lines but a monitoring system. “Fiber optic is a good monitoring system, which is installed on the outside of the casing. It measures the oil’s temperatures, pressures, and strains in and out of the ground. It also assists with monitoring zones and the fracture efficiency of the well, which is crucial. This is a long process, but it is key if you need to document the well’s history,” says Vincent Navarro, Western Texas Operations Manager. These fiber optic installations are done on permanent wells and can be accessed remotely. Casing Specialties is one of the only companies in the Texas region that can install fiber optics on a well. Installing these fiber optics must be done precisely to ensure that the casing doesn’t compromise the cable. And the lines are installed by third-party specialists collaborating with the company. Casing Specialties work with Halliburton and SageRider; depending on the region, the specialists change. The company has invested in technology and programs to streamline installations, workforce, and workflow. Also, with the development in the sector, manufacturing processes and machinery have had to be upgraded. According to Davis, “Much of the equipment we used six or seven years ago is obsolete because it doesn’t meet a high enough rating. These new machines implement higher torque connections and more premium connections, which can handle higher pressure.” Casing Specialties has invested in an entirely new fleet of power tongs, which is the machine that connects the two casing joints together. The supplier that keeps the company modernized is Starr Manufacturing. “ Fiber optic is a good monitoring system, which is installed on the outside of the casing. It measures the oil’s temperatures, pressures, and strains in and out of the ground. It also assists with monitoring zones and the fracture efficiency of the well, which is crucial. This is a long process, but it is key if you need to document the well’s history.”