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turers and engineers,” Marshall explained. “We
have an engineering team, a design team, and
a facility in Edmonton where you can prototype
with an engineer on site. We’re really a centre
of excellence for downhole technologies.”
3D printing and robotics are part
of the future
The company’s offices in Calgary, Alberta and
Nicosia, Cyprus have them situated near two
major petroleum basins. But exciting things are
also happening in their manufacturing centre
in Edmonton, Alberta, where one of the latest
innovations involves 3D printing. The next gen-
eration of tool designers are looking at prob-
lems differently than in the past, Marshall said,
and one of the answers lies in the high-tech
printing process.
“You’re dealing with exotic materials, deal-
ing with the design constraints of a downhole
tool, and that’s why 3D printing is so exciting,”
he explained. “It changes how you look at the
design.
We have a tool out right now where we’ve
done basically a gearing system on a 3D printer
with exotic ink alloy metals, which to my knowl-
edge has never been done,” he added. “I think
that’s pretty interesting. We’ve got a lot of fun
stuff going on.”
The 3D process also allows Northstar’s de-
signers to create tools that offer greater ac-
curacy and reliability. One example is a steel
gearing system that can be printed as one unit
rather than six parts that have to be assembled
and serviced, which is crucial when they’re be-
ing transported to off-the-beaten-path jungle
locations.
The next level of innovation is looking at
downhole robotics and high pressure/high
temperature electronics. One of Northstar’s
newest prototypes is a wireless tool that al-
lows them to “talk” up and down to the tool,
even when it’s situated 3,000 metres into the
ground. The wireless option would remove
some of the operational barriers that can oc-
cur with current technology that relies on me-
chanical movement or pressure differential.
“Everyone is still at an early stage,” Marshall
said, “playing around with what will work the
best. There’s a bit of a race on that.”
To learn more about drill stem testing and
Northstar Downhole Technologies, visit www.
northstardst.com.
