Surface engineering technology company, Hardide Coatings has secured approved supplier status and new business for Hardide-T, its unique tungsten carbide-based component coating, from both the UK and US operations of global oil services giant, Weatherford International Ltd.
The coating, which is proven to dramatically extend component life and reduce downtime by increasing wear and corrosion resistance, is being used by Weatherford in a number of downhole drilling and completion applications in harsh environments around the world. Hardide has been working with Weatherford for over a year on the engineering and testing of solutions to improve the performance of these parts and further applications are currently in test.
In a new development, Hardide is also manufacturing, as well as coating, customer components for the first time; the company is manufacturing and coating bearing pins for use in expandable completion systems for Weatherford in the UK. Tests have proven that the Hardide-coated pins last up to four times longer than with the previous coating process.
Jim Murray-Smith, chief executive officer of Hardide plc said: “We are very pleased to add Weatherford to our expanding oil and gas customer portfolio in both the UK and US. They are a prime example of a large service company which is at the forefront of encouraging new technology and innovation, and is able to work constructively with companies like Hardide to develop solutions that optimise their product performance.”
Hardide-T offers an unprecedented combination of hardness, toughness, low friction and chemical resistance when applied to components made from steel, alloy and other materials. Together with features such as its ability to coat internal surfaces, it is proven to outperform alternative technologies across many measures. Oil and gas applications include cylinders, nozzles, pins & bushes, balls and seats, bores, valve components and drilling tools. It is widely used around the world in aggressive wear or chemical environments primarily in the oil and gas, valve, pump and aerospace industries.