The permanent, large-bore Shadow series plugs are designed to be left downhole once fraccing is complete.

"Shadow plugs are a more efficient alternative to traditional composite plugs because they eliminate coiled tubing operations from the critical well path and enable reduced costs and HSE risks," Baker said.

The large flow-through diameter and "In-Tallic" disintegrating frac balls are credited for allowing production to flow once the plug is in place and after fraccing operations are complete.

"The IN-Tallic frac balls, which are made with a controlled electrolytic metallic nanostructured material, hold pressure during fracturing and disintegrate in the well when exposed to produced fluids, leaving a large inside diameter to enable maximum production," Baker said.

"The initial reservoir entry point is created using our Alpha sleeve pressure-actuated valve, rather than a perforating gun run in on coiled tubing."

Baker said the plugs could allow operators to fracture longer lateral sections and maximise reservoir access while they were ideal for remote locations where it could be difficult to get intervention equipment onsite.

"The Shadow plug was field tested on two of seven wells in the Horn River Basin [in British Columbia, Canada] while the other five wells were completed using conventional composite plugs," Baker said.

"The wells with the Shadow frac plugs produced at the same volume as the wells using the composite plugs.

"However, because the drill-out phase was eliminated, the time on well was reduced by approximately two days for a cost saving of $US150,000 ($A169,700) per well."