The glass bubble is designed for use as a lightweight, ultra-high-strength filler in pipe insulation, drilling fluids, drill riser buoyancy and cementing operations.
3M Glass Bubbles are hollow glass micro spheres used in applications that enable deep-sea oil and gas drillers to operate at greater depths.
The operations are carried because of their crush resistance at extreme ocean depths and a host of other characteristics, including low density, buoyancy and thermal insulation capability.
3M Glass Bubbles increasingly are used in lieu of conventional aerated fluids for improved recovery operations in near-depleted fields.
3M Energy and advanced materials division business manager Keith Rutkowski said the industry has encompassed this new technology worldwide, as it provides greater reliability and efficiency of operations.
"An additional production facility is necessary to meet the projected level of demand," added Rutkowski.
The plant is expected to be operational on a commercial basis at the end of November 2011.
