Baker Hughes Inaugurates Center for Technology Innovation (CTI)
with an Open House
HOUSTON - April 4, 2008 - Baker Hughes Incorporated (NYSE: BHI;
EBS) held an open house today to celebrate the opening of Phase I
of its new Center for Technology Innovation (CTI) in northwest
Houston.
"The CTI is a world class research and engineering center. This
$42 million investment demonstrates our company's commitment to
developing new completion and production technologies," said Chad
Deaton, Baker Hughes Chairman, President and CEO. "Innovations
created and tested here will enable our customers to maximize
recovery even in the most challenging environments."
"The CTI is capable of testing full-size prototypes of the next
generation of downhole completion tools in a test environment with
pressures up to 40,000 psi and temperatures up to 700 F," said
Bennett Richard, Director of Product Engineering. "While there are
test facilities that can test individual components at higher
ratings, none are capable of testing the full-sized systems with
the volumes of gas required for such extreme high-pressure and
high-temperature testing."
Completion & Production Research and EngineeringThe CTI is
designed to enable Baker Hughes research and engineering teams to
achieve breakthroughs in technologies focused on four important
application areas:
l Deepwater wells l Extreme high-pressure, high-temperature
(HPHT) applications l Production optimization, and l Large-diameter
"big bore" completions
The facility includes high pressure/high temperature test cells
rated at 700F and 40,000 psi, research labs for materials, fluids,
elastomers, composites and electronics, as well as prototype
manufacturing capabilities.
CTI CampusThe CTI is located within a 14-acre campus that will
advance Baker Hughes completion and production technologies by
providing a synergistic environment for cross-collaboration between
Baker Hughes divisions Baker Oil Tools, ProductionQuest, Baker
Petrolite and Centrilift. Approximately 575 scientists, application
engineers and laboratory technicians will conduct research,
engineering, development and testing at the CTI. Phase II of the
CTI campus, consisting of additional office buildings and research
facilities, is expected to be completed by the end of 2008.
Research LaboratoriesThe CTI has research facilities are
dedicated to investigating latest developments in metallurgy,
elastomers, fluids and composites for oilfield applications under
challenging conditions.
Rapid Prototyping CapabilitiesThe CTI makes extensive use of
Rapid Prototype (RP) equipment to develop plastic and powder
deposition models for visualization and functional analysis.
Prototype Machine ShopThe latest machining technology and
practices are available, including multi-axis capability and EDM
cutting technology, for highly specialized prototyping needs.
Test Cell MonitoringCustomers, third-party inspectors, and
collaborating engineers will use a specially built work space while
viewing their tests and monitoring the results in a safe
environment.
Increased Customer Collaboration
The CTI supports enhanced Baker Hughes collaboration with our
clients. Current projects include the development of a
hostile-environment permanent packer, high hydrostatic packer
setting module, real-time casing imaging technology and integration
of fiber optics with sandface completions.
Baker Hughes is a leading provider of drilling, formation
evaluation, completion and production products and services to the
worldwide oil and gas industry.
Contact: Ron Bitto, +1 713 439-8391 Brenda Sharp, +1 713
625-4773
Baker Hughes Center for Technology Innovation14990 Yorktown
Plaza DriveHouston, Texas 77040Tel 713 934-4100
