Camcon demonstrates "breakthrough" slimline valve to improve oil well production by up to 30 per cent4 October 2007 – Cambridge, UK – Camcon Technology , the UK developer of the digital valve, today demonstrated a prototype slimline valve at its R&D centre in Cambridge. Used in conjunction with a telemetry system the Camcon slimline valve could improve the efficiency of recovery from oil wells by up to 30 per cent. Camcon will now work with a manufacturing partner to test the valve in a live offshore oil well application. The valve will be incorporated in a system to monitor and control the flow of oil within the laterals running off a wellhead. Existing technology configuration have inherent restrictions on the number of laterals support from the main well as each lateral requires a control valve with a mechanical control line to the wellhead. The Camcon slimline valve system will enable 50 to 100 ‘smart’ laterals to run off the main bore, which will ensure more efficient resevoir drainage and enhanced oil recovery. Camcon’s computer models estimate that the slimvalve configuration could improve oil recovery by up to 30 per cent. "C amcon's technology has the potential to revolutionise many of today’s industries, though recent concerns surrounding depleting oil reserves and rising oil prices make the importance of technological innovations in the oil and gas industry especially relevant," said Ian Ramsay-Connell, Independent Oil & Gas Automation Consultant. "Due to its rapid response times, low energy consumption and exceptionally long life, the slimline valve overshadows comparable valve actuation technologies. By increasing the efficiency of oil extraction from reservoirs, the slimline valve could help solve some key issues currently faced by the oil and gas industry," he added. Using Camcon's patented binary actuation technology, the slimline valve is far more energy efficient than equivalent technologies, such as solenoids, only requiring power to switch from one state to the other. The valve is designed to function under high pressure, in harsh environments experienced at the bottom of an undersea oil well. “This is a dramatic breakthrough for the oil and gas industry. Camcon’s technology could radically improve the efficiency of oil recovery from deep sea oil wells. The initial results from our R&D trials show that the slimline valve could improve oil output from deep sea wells by more than a third. We look forward to live trials working with our manufacturing partners,” said Danny Chapchal, chairman, Camcon. The slimline valve has completed an initial set of endurance tests up to 200,000 switches with no adverse effects and reliably switches up to a pressure of 5,000psi (345 atmospheres). The construction of the valve itself will have to withstand a hydrostatic pressure of 20,000psi (1,380 atmospheres). - ends - About Camcon Based in Cambridge, UK, Camcon Technology is a small fast growing company focused on the research and development of the Camcon binary actuator. Camcon binary actuating technology has been 15 years in development and is the invention of Camcon founder Wladyslaw Wygnanski. The high-speed, low energy consumption, low heat dissipation and long life characteristics of the Camcon binary actuator mean that it has applications in a whole new range of areas, as well as being a replacement for existing actuator and valve technologies. Camcon Technology licenses its technology to customers, typically on a field-of-use basis. The company develops pre-production prototypes for customers on a consultancy basis and then hands over designs either to its customers to manufacture in volume, or to a manufacturing partner. For further information see: www.camcontec.com. Camcon is funded by ACUS Management Partners, an active management venture capitalist that specialises in funding early stage technology companies. For further information see: www.acus.co.uk.
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