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Lubra-Glide®

Lubra-Glide is the original CE co-polymer bead and the only bead made exclusively for the Petroleum Industry.

Lubra-Glide CE Co-Polymer Beads are spherical solid beads that provide mechanical lubrication, significantly reducing drill string wear and casing wear prevention through standoff and impact absorption.

  • Reduces torque and drag
  • Recoverable using SUN’s patented process
  • Environmentally safe
  • Compatible with both oil and water-based fluids
  • Thermally stable downhole >450°F in a drilling environment
  • Manufactured in fine or coarse grades

Typical Uses

  • Spot prior to running casing or liners
  • Spot prior to logging operations
  • Spot while drilling to transfer more true weight to bit
  • Spot in key seats to reduce torque, drag and sticking problems
  • Apply Lubra-Glide CE Co-Polymer Beads Fine Beads for torque and drag reduction in coil tubing operations or with work strings
  • Lubricant for both OBM or SBM
  • Reduces risk of differential
  • Aids in directional changes or while sliding

Physical Properties

  • Form: Spherical Solid Bead
  • Color: Clear
  • Specific gravity: 1.06

Applications

  • Concentrations of 2–8 ppb (5.71–22.87 kilograms/m3) to control torque and drag
  • Concentrations of 8–12 ppb (22.87–34.31 kilograms/m3) for spotting in wire-line operations and running casing
  • Lubra-Glide “CE” Co-Polymer Beads are easily added through the mud-mixing hopper

Packages

50 lb/sacks (22.6 Kg)

Pallet (48 sacks of 50 lb)

2,000 lb super sacks

Testimonials

  • We were trying to run a liner and it wouldn’t go. We mixed a CoastaLube (at 6%) Lubra-Glide bead pill (at 10 ppb) and circulated to cover the lateral section. As soon as pill exited bit liner began to move and liner was ran and cemented and well completed.

    Company Man, Rocky Mountains
  • Because of the extremely high torque we encounter, the only two ways we can drill these wells is with SUN’s Drill Beads, or using oil-based mud. It’s much less expensive to use the beads and SUN’s recovery unit.

    Major Independent, DJ Basin
  • Yes, I am very pleased with the performance of the (Lubra-Glide) beads. It really got us out of a bind on the well. I would be more than happy to help you guys out if you need a reference. Thanks for your services and keep in touch.

    Drilling Engineer, Permian Basin
  • We lost complete returns in this 4¾” open hole with 2 7/8” drill pipe. We had 100K of weight stacking through curve and open hole. (SUN) suggested to us to spot a Lubra-Glide Bead pill down the backside. It worked great! We started drilling off at 15 FPH with only 18K and torque dropped 100 amps”.

    Company Man, Lee County Texas
  • After the addition of Lubra-Glide coarse our ROP increased, sometimes doubling. Wall sticking decreased, torque dropped while rotating. Those (Lubra-Glide) beads really helped a lot.

    Directional Driller, West Texas

Determination of required quantity of Lubra-Glide “CE” Co-Polymer Beads

The optimum concentration of Lubra-Glide beads is ten (10) pounds per barrel. The volume of fluid to be treated is calculated based on the volume necessary to cover the open hole from the bottom of the hole to a point approximately two hundred (200) feet above the kick-off point in the open hole. If the kick off point is already behind casing, then the entire open hole volume should be treated.

Example: In a 12 ¼ hole the approximate volume would be 150 bbls per 1000 feet. At a minimum, a 10% allowance for washout is included. A minimum volume therefore of 165 bbls treated at 10 ppb would require 1650 pounds (33 sacks) of product per thousand feet. If you are aware of that being a larger percent based on well site information, adjust the volume accordingly.

Preparation of treated fluid for placement

It is critical that the treated fluid be isolated. This can be accomplished through the use of a slugging tank. If the volume required is greater than available in isolated tanks on location, the Lubra-Glide can be added as the fluid is being pumped. The addition will depend on the rate at which you are able to pump. The addition of beads in this manner requires planning on having sufficient beads near the suction tank in order to cut and dump the required 10 ppb (2 sacks per minute if pumping 10 bbl/min). In most cases where total isolation is not possible, a combination of both methods is used whereby the volume in the slugging tank is pumped first then the remainder is added via the suction tank.

Lubra-Glide is readily wettable, rapidly dispersible and requires no special pre-treatment when being added to the fluid. Adding the product at the suction is a common “pump & dump” practice. The key to this method lies in the personnel keeping a steady pace with the addition.

Determining Placement of Lubra-Glide “CE” Co-Polymer Beads

The placement of the Lubra-Glide beads is obviously critical to them providing the significant reduction in drag/friction when running casing. The optimum placement of the uppermost level of the treated fluid is about 200 feet above the kick-off point (from vertical) in the hole. This assumes that the resistance to the casing in the vertical hole is minimal and no “tight spots” or ledges exist.

Placement of treated fluid inside the previous casing string where the angle has been built is highly recommended. The benefit of the Lubra-Glide inside the casing is maximized since the beads will always work in their roller ball bearing configuration. This minimization of drag through existing casing allows for more weight to be applied in the lower sections of the pipe making it easier to get the pipe to bottom.

Method of Placement of Lubra-Glide “CE” Co-Polymer Beads

The pumping of the Lubra-Glide treated fluid should be performed as the last function before the drill pipe is removed from the hole and casing is to be run. It is recommended that the fluid is pumped with the drill pipe in place and not in a “slug & pull” approach. A straight pumping displacement has historically provided a better placement of the Lubra-Glide and eliminates any inconsistent dispersion of product down hole.