Oerlikon Metco’s ISO certified Houston coating service facility reports that its precision laser cladding deposit technology results in surfaces with improved resistance to wear and abrasion for downhole applications. These coatings protect drill collars, stabilizers, and tricone bits from abrasion and slurry erosion thereby increasing part longevity and lowering life-cycle costs.
According to one customer, “Typically, this part requires replacement after 1000 to 1100 hours of service, but the laser clad part is now at 1235 hours.” He anticipates another 500 hours of service, resulting in a downhole life increase of approximately 60 percent.
Compared to conventional build-up welding processes such as PTA, MIG, and TIG, laser cladding has significantly lower and more localized heat input. The technology provides low dilution of the workpiece substrate, and reduces the potential for distortion. Thus, it offers advantages in terms of the materials that can be deposited and the workpiece geometries that can be processed.
Even materials that are difficult to weld, such as high-temperature nickel-base alloys and high-carbon steels, are more easily welded using laser cladding. In addition, the typically small melt pool formed during laser cladding gives rise to the ability to process very complex geometries within a single setup.
