“AlphaST enables operators to avoid the cost and time of setting a cement plug, waiting on cement and time drilling. Weatherford Energy has launched the AlphaST single - trip sidetrack cementing system , aimed at cutting rig operator time and eliminating the time - consuming use of a cement plug . The company said previous attempts in the Permian Basin to use cement plugs for sidetracking had needed multiple trips . Trials of the new single - trip system saved rig operators 29 hours and more than $ 100,000 , said Weatherford .
Weatherford Energy has launched the AlphaST single - trip sidetrack cementing system , aimed at cutting rig operator time and eliminating the time - consuming use of a cement plug . The company said previous attempts in the Permian Basin to use cement plugs for sidetracking had needed multiple trips . Trials of the new single - trip system saved rig operators 29 hours and more than $ 100,000 , said Weatherford .