New Technology Solves Key CSG Production Issue

Brisbane, Australia, 26 August 2014 – Australian technical services company WellDog today launched an Australian-first device to extend the run life of pumps in Australian coal seam gas wells.

The Progressing Cavity Pump (PCP) Defender, or PCPDefender^TM, is significantly reducing production interruptions for CSG producers by reducing the costly issue of settling solids, which up until now has been untreatable.

WellDog Chief Operating Officer James Walker said almost half of Queensland’s coal seam gas pumps were plagued with issues related to heavy solids production which caused the pumps to fail regularly.

“By minimizing settling solids in this area of production, the PCPDefender^TM can increase the run life of pumps and reduce the number of pump shutdowns, allowing for production of more natural gas at lower cost,” Mr Walker said.

The PCPDefender^TM has undergone extensive in-field trials with CSG producers in Australian CSG wells and reflects WellDog’s commitment to reducing production costs for coal seam gas in Queensland.

Mr Walker said the first installation of the PCPDefender^TM was on a Queensland well that had experienced solid settling problems for months, forcing numerous shutdowns and costly workovers.

“That first well was at the point where the pump repeatedly jammed with solids, however the operator installed a PCPDefender^TM and since then the well has been de-watered without workover despite five system restarts,” Mr Walker said.

The PCPDefender^TM is a valve that automatically diverts the solids settling in CSG production fluid during shutdown into the annulus and away from the pump. PCPDefender^TM is the industry’s first diverter valve for use with rod driven progressing cavity pumps (PCPs) and represents the latest addition to WellDog’s suite of PCP Lifetime Enhancements introduced by WellDog to the market in November 2013.