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Drill and Drop Plug

The Drill and Drop Inflatable Plug is a sacrificial bridge plug designed to serve as a stable and reliable false bottom for cement plugs in boreholes. The system is deployed using standard drill rods and inflated from the surface to create a secure bridge plug. It features an integrated check valve that maintains inflation pressure after the rods are disconnected. A key element of the design is the external frangible deflation line. During the cement clean-out process, a standard drill bit shears this deflation line, which causes the packer to instantly deflate and drop. This mechanism allows for easy deflation as part of the cement milling operation and doesn’t require any specialised fishing tools.

Product Video

Drill and Drop Plug

Applications:

  • Cementing and Grouting: Acts as a reliable platform for setting cement plugs or grout in various borehole environments.
  • Void Sealing: Used to isolate and seal off underground cavities or fractures.
  • Water Ingress Control: Effective for managing and stopping water flow within a drill hole by grouting the production zones.
  • Wall Stabilisation: Provides structural support to stabilise borehole walls during geotechnical or mining operations.
  • Drilling into Mine Gallery: Ideal for holes drilled into underground mine galleries; once the packer drops, it can be retrieved from the gallery and reused if in good condition.

Benefits:

  • Milling-Free Removal: Eliminates the need for expensive and time-consuming milling operations, as the unit is designed to deflate and drop after the inflation line is sheared.
  • Reliable False Bottom: Provides a secure, stable base for successful secondary grouting or stabilisation tasks.
  • Operational Efficiency: Significantly reduces rig time by streamlining the deployment and removal process.
  • Simplified Logistics: Does not require complex retrieval equipment or specialised fishing tools to clear the borehole.
  • Ease of Removal: The passive deflation mechanism ensures the tool can be cleared from the hole using standard drilling equipment.

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    Stuart Brown

    Director

    Stuart recently joined IPI as the Director of Oil and Gas, bringing with him 15 years of diverse experience in the industry, with a strong focus on inflatable packers. His extensive background encompasses a variety of roles, including field engineering, operations management, sales, and business development. This breadth of expertise, coupled with his international experience in markets across North America, Europe, Australia, and the Middle East, positions Stuart to effectively lead and expand IPI’s oil and gas operations on a global scale. Stuart holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Aberdeen and a Master’s degree in Finance from City University of London. His robust technical foundation and financial acumen uniquely empower him to drive strategic initiatives and foster growth within the company.

    Masoud Jangani

    Director

    Masoud joined IPI Packers in 2022 as the Oil & Gas Region Manager for the Asia Pacific, bringing over 20 years of experience across operations management, technical sales, and business development in the resources sector. His diverse career spans both the mining and oil & gas industries, where he has held key leadership roles at global companies. In 2024, Masoud was appointed Director of the Mining, Water, and Geotech product lines (MWG), driving strategic growth and expansion across these sectors. Masoud holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering and graduate certificates in finance and business law.

    Garry Taylor

    Dave Knell

    Director

    David (Dave) Knell has been involved with the manufacture and application of inflatable packers for over 35 years. He started his career as an apprentice aged 15, and within a year, was running packers offshore, in Western Australia. Dave was the first employee of IPI and has been instrumental in the development of IPI’s manufacturing facility and capabilities. His knowledge of building packers is backed by extensive experience in the field, an innate understanding of real-world applications, and a fierce attention to detail. Dave is currently focused on expanding IPI’s ISO9001 certified manufacturing operations on a global scale, to better serve customers and to foster the continued growth of the company.

    Francis Ford

    Director

    Francis joined IPI in 2005, based in Perth, Western Australia, as an apprentice. He developed his skills in manufacturing, tool and packer design and field operations across multiple industries – mining, water, civil/construction and oil & gas. His level of expertise and understanding enabled him to progress into leading IPI’s R&D efforts as manager. This included leading key custom / OEM designs and their practical developments, for multiple clients as well as continuing to progress the design and development of IPI’s unique systems. Now as engineering director, he is developing IPI’s engineering team to better support clients by improving our predictive packer modelling and fostering the continuous improvement of our packer tools and technology. A member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and author of several technical papers, he is credited in several industry patents.

    Joel Adams

    Director

    Joel Adams is a hydrogeologist, turned packer expert who has spent 30 years applying inflatable packer technology to complex downhole problems. His experience includes well testing for nuclear waste site characterization, water resources, water rights, rock stress testing, water well rehabilitation, and plug and abandonment (P&A). Joel has been leading the team as Director – North America since 2007 and has been associated with IPI, either as a key customer, agent or employee, since its founding in 1999. He led the introduction of IPI packer technology to P&A work, offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, and the establishment of DuraFRAC® packers as the market leader in the water well hydrofrac market. With numerous publications and presentations, Joel is a recognized expert in well testing and custom packer system design.

    Howard Kenworthy

    Director

    Howard joined IPI in 2005 as commercial manager when IPI had 5 staff and was making customized product to order. His prior career was with UK public companies in retailing and financial services, leading operating companies. He holds an MBA which he took a few years after his degree from Oxford (Philosophy, Politics and Economics). He has led IPI’s distribution development with standard products and established most of IPI’s international operations as part of his role in business planning, finance and strategy. This included joint ventures in the USA, Chile and Indonesia. He was based in South East Asia 2015 to 2022, prior to relocating to Sharjah in the UAE, from where, as Commercial Director, he continues to develop and co-ordinate planning and strategy, the group’s global distribution and financial operations.

    Clem Rowe

    Founder and Executive Chair

    Born and bred in Western Australia, Clem is a Curtin University graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering. Early in his career, Clem worked on offshore engineering projects in Western Australia and France. While working offshore, Clem was first exposed to inflatable packers, manufactured by a small Australian company that he subsequently joined in 1988 as Engineering Director. Clem established IPI in 1999 and has grown it from a small Western Australian manufacturing operation, to the world-wide manufacturing and distribution organization that it is today, by carefully selecting a competent team, that shares his values of quality, innovation and customer service. Clem is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the Institute of Hydrogeologists and the Institution of Engineers, Australia. He is the author of multiple articles and papers on inflatable packers and their application and has several international patents to his credit.

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