Standard Wireline Packer Systems (SWiPS) designed and manufactured by Inflatable Packers International (IPI) are increasingly being used for coal bed methane projects.

One of the new recent SWiPS purchasers is Boart Longyear Drilling Services ( New Zealand ), which recently took delivery of a HQ model.

SWiPS has been used for permeability testing by one client for several years on New Zealand coal bed methane projects and after extensive use of this client's SWiPS, Boart Longyear decided it was time they had their own.

IPI's Dave Knell gave a demonstration run in of the product at Boart Longyear’s yard near Auckland for senior hands in between winter New Zealand showers.

Recent SWiPS sales by IPI have included several for coal bed methane projects in Botswana , Indonesia and the USA .

SWiPS can be run in between coring samples on wireline systems, and is hydraulic in operation with water pumped in via the rods - avoiding the need for nitrogen and separate inflation lines.

Until now the target market for SWiPS has been deep mine projects, with sales for such remote places as the Canadian Arctic, Peruvian/Chilean Andes, the steppes of Asia and jungle locations in central Africa and the Philippines.

However, the speed and simplicity of use of SWiPS has also won over drillers support in less demanding locations in the USA , South Africa and Australia .

IPI is based in Perth , Western Australia and the company is upgrading the SWiPS range of options so that it is capable of performing other tests required for coal bed methane projects as well as for plugging difficult wells.

www.inflatable-packers.com.au