CEMSourcing
THIngs are HoTTIng up
The oil and gas industry is looking to high reliability solutions to accommodate the extreme temperatures generated during drilling. But howmany CEMs have the capability to keep up?
Change is afoot in the oil and gas industry. In fact, this sector is undergoing a step change in its demand for high reliability electronics, particularly electronics capable of surviving extremes of temperature and vibration. This is driven by an increase in the number of wells requiring directional drilling, which has increased three fold in the last five years.
Today, approximately two-thirds of wells
drilled in the world are expected to be drilled either directionally or horizontally. In these complex drilling environments, operators are increasingly relying on electronic sensors to acquire real time data in down-hole measurements. These electronic sensors need to be capable of withstanding extremes of vibration and temperature, which routinely exceed 200°C. The failure of a measurement tool whilst drilling a 20,000ft deep well could readily incur two days delay, which for an offshore platform equates to a loss in production of one to two million US dollars.
In these extreme environments conventional solutions have
severe limitations. Consequently the oil and gas industry is looking to high reliability solutions, particularly those incorporating hermetically sealed, ceramic based, thick film hybrid microcircuits.
Investing in reliability
As a result of these developments, C-MACMicroTechnology has launched a new oil and gas electronics manufacturing services business. This extends C-MAC’s position as a supplier of high reliability electronics for harsh environments and complements its existing businesses in automotive, aerospace and defence applications.
C-MACMicroTechnology chairman, IndroMukerjee, said: “This
new business is the latest addition to our group of businesses focussed on high reliability electronics.We strategically decided to invest in developing technologies and techniques which have positioned C-MAC as a leader in high temperature systems as well as building on our well developed capabilities to serve the automotive and aerospace and defencemarkets. Our current
28 |March 2010
High reliability oil and gas solutions incorporate hermetically sealed, ceramic based, thick filmhybridmicrocircuits
engagements with leading oil and gas services companies confirm that we have a proven and unique capability.”
C-MACMicroTechnology has a long pedigree in supplying high
reliability electronics in demandingmarkets. The company utilises a number of high reliability technologies including thick filmhybrid microcircuits, which have long been established as the technology of choice for high reliability applications in automotive, aerospace and defence electronics.
Hot new technology
Establishing the new C-MAC oil and gas business reflects C- MAC’s determination to maintain its position as the global supplier of choice in this rapidly growing sector for high reliability electronics. It builds on the significant investment it has already made in its engineering and environmental testing capability, which has enabled it to develop a proprietary high temperature 225°C technology.
CEO of C-MAC’s UK business, which developed the high
temperature solutions for oil and gas, Karen Oddey, explained: “We are well placed for significant growth in this exciting and demanding sector. Our high temperature capability is proven, recognised by industry leaders and backed by significant investment in environmental testing capability.
“We already have a unique technology solution for 225°C and
we will be investing to extend our solutions beyond 225°C.”
www.cmac.com
www.electronics-sourcing.co.uk
C-MAC has invested in extreme environmental testing technology
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