Development of design methodologies and standards for a friction grip technology adopted by oil and gas exploration and production companies

Description of impact

Development of design methodologies and standards for a novel friction grip technology for securing concentric tubulars in oil and gas wells has enabled Plexus Ocean Systems Ltd to diversify their business portfolio. The extended durability of friction grip designs, determined by Aberdeen, allowed Plexus to extend their market reach to both short-term (approximately 6 months) and long-term (approximately 20 to 30 years) production wells, leading to considerable economic benefit. This technology has been licensed extensively to different operators in Russia, Norway, and the UK (North Sea). Additionally, the standards and guidelines underpinned by Aberdeen research formed a key part of the technical package used to support the case for the establishment of a new joint venture between Plexus and a major wellhead manufacturer in 2017. The technology has been used in more than 300 wells worldwide and encompasses close to one-third share of the most common sizes of casing hangers in operation (as of 2015), with each wellhead POS-GRIP® system costing between USD150,000 and USD350,000.

Outcomes to Date / Future Developments

Research carried out by Akisanya and Neilson has led directly to commercial impacts through the licensing and international adoption of POS-GRIP® technology.

Impact status	Impact Completed (Open)
Impact date	2005 → 2019