About the Well Construction Technology Center
History
The Well Construction Technology Center (WCTC) was initiated in 1991, initially under the name of the Fracturing Fluid Characterization Facility (FFCF). The project began as a cooperative effort funded by the Gas Research Institute (GRI) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The goal was to design and construct a unique, above-ground fracture simulator to measure fluid properties under conditions representative of the downhole environment. The simulator's development involved partnerships with MTS Systems, Halliburton Energy Services, and RE/SPEC, Inc.
In 1999, the facility was renamed the Well Construction Technology Center (WCTC) to align with the University of Oklahoma's (OU) new strategies for commercialization and to reflect the expanding capabilities of this North Campus research facility. The new name captured the broad spectrum of industrial applications the center now encompassed, including drilling, completions, and production.
The Facility
WCTC is an advanced technology research center incorporating high-pressure, high-temperature testing capabilities. The facility comprises field and lab-scale equipment, enabling it to perform state-of-the-art research and developmental activities. It integrates studies into fluid flow applications for coiled tubing, fracturing, drilling, and production operations. The center functions as an extension of the Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering (MPGE) and works in conjunction with the Sarkeys Energy Center.
One of WCTC's notable research areas is the coiled tubing fluid flow aspect, which was conducted under the Coiled Tubing Consortium. Additionally, WCTC conducts extensive research on fracturing and drilling fluid characterization, evaluation, and assessment of various fluid systems such as foam fluids, brines, and crosslinked gels. Other areas of study include proppant and cutting transport behavior, wellbore integrity, downhole tools, and multiphase flow.
Through these comprehensive research and development activities, WCTC continues to support advancements in the field of petroleum engineering, contributing valuable insights and innovations to the industry.
Operations
The facility's overall operations are organized and managed by WCTC's Director, who emphasizes coordinating technical efforts and marketing activities. WCTC also has a technical research team dedicated to developing and executing research projects, designing specific test plans, and analyzing test results. This team comprises faculty, research associates, post-doctoral fellows, graduate students, and visiting scholars from industry and academia.
WCTC's research team conducts investigations to improve the theoretical understanding of various phenomena critical for developing new technologies in petroleum engineering and related fields. Their comprehensive research and development activities support advancements in the field, contributing valuable insights and innovations to the industry.
