Company Information - News & Events
January 25, 2010
Quality Wireline & Cable Advances Electro-Mechanical Cable Manufacturing
Canadian Start-Up Chooses Davis-Standard for First Extrusion System
Innovation, precision and excellence are the driving forces behind Quality Wireline & Cable, Inc. (Quality) of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Established in 2008 by an experienced team of engineers, Quality manufactures electro-mechanical cables for the global oil and gas industry. Last summer, the company installed a Davis-Standard wire and cable system for manufacturing cables with the structural and electrical integrity to better withstand the severe conditions within oil and gas wells. Since installing the line, Quality’s products have surpassed existing manufacturing standards for wireline cables in terms of quality and customer value. In addition to a superior cable, Quality is able to offer competitive pricing via improved processing rates, minimal waste, greater product consistency and reduced manufacturing costs.
“Our cables spool in and out of oil and gas wells on a daily basis and are up to six miles long. The environment is harsh with temperatures exceeding 400 degrees (Fahrenheit), pressures up to 25,000 psi, and tensile loads over 15,000 pounds,” explained Thakur Sekhon, Quality’s Technical Manager. “To complicate matters, wellbore fluids can be highly corrosive and gaseous. Any defect in manufacturing can wreak havoc for our customers. We’ve combined the best ideas with the best technology to ensure the mechanical properties of our cables stay intact while continuously transmitting problem-free data from down-hole instrumentation. Davis-Standard has been a key partner in helping us achieve these goals.”
Quality selected Davis-Standard after an extensive review of available extrusion technology, including capabilities for processing high-temperature FEP at tight tolerances. Davis-Standard custom engineered the line to meet the rigorous demands of
Quality’s multi-layer process. This includes two layers of copper, one layer of plastic and two layers of steel wire. Quality’s electro-mechanical cables utilize either a single conductor or a bundle of conductors surrounded by a dual shell package for mechanical strength. The diameter, wall thickness and concentricity of the extrusion are essential to obtain a high quality cable before the armoring process is applied.
To address accuracy, the Davis-Standard system was equipped with technology that continually adjusts diameter requirements, maintaining tolerances within one one-thousandths of an inch. This precision is essential because any minor irregularity is compounded with each additional layer. The line has also reduced waste at the front and back end of the process, and operates at speeds nearly double the industry standard. System components such as the shaftless payoff and take-up, extruder, feedscrews, vacuum pump, multi-pass capstan and MESA III drive and line control were modified to address unique technical specifications.
“Our mission is to exceed customer expectations and avoid being another ‘me too’ company,” said President Kirby Jabusch. “Due to the outstanding efforts of our engineering staff and partners like Davis-Standard, we’ve incorporated the highest technical and quality standards. We adhere to strict guidelines, qualifying and testing each raw component during the manufacturing process. This means fewer failures, minimized risk for clients and an improved bottom line for everyone involved. We are producing the closest thing to a perfect cable.”
Sekhon added, “We most appreciate Davis-Standard’s professionalism. Their experienced and knowledgeable personnel did an excellent job of helping us design, build and commission a new generation extrusion line.”
For more information about Quality Wireline & Cable, contact Sekhon at tsekhon@qualitywireline.com. For more information about Davis-Standard’s wire and cable systems, contact Larry Fitzgerald at lfitzgerald@davis-standard.com.
Davis-Standard MX Series 2-inch 30:1 air-cooled extruder.
