The roadrunner is essentially a stripped down pumpjack on a trailer. It can move between fields, be set up quickly, and target oil that would otherwise be considered uncommercial.
The small unit is applicable across both oil and gas projects and can capture oil as soon as a well is established, while waiting for pipeline or permanent tankage infrastructure to be established.
In conventional gas operations, it can be used to promote flow and remove excessive water, or dewater CSG wells.
Bengal has significant acreage holdings across the Cooper Basin, with 5.9 million barrels of oil reserves, where it plans to deploy the unit.
Whereas installation of a permanent pumpjack can take at least a month and cost anywhere between $800,000 to $1 million, the roadrunner can simply be driven on site before immediately commencing production.
Bengal designed the unit as a solution to ensure early cash flow from oil discoveries while minimizing investment.
Through a partnership with contractor Ago Vires, Bengal acquired the pumpjack for scrap value before stripping the unit down by a third, installing a new CAT engine, hydraulic system and replacing the beam pump.
The partnership has grown into a new venture called BEA Technologies.
Bengal chief operating officer Kai Eberspaecher told Energy News the roadrunner project would deliver safer, more sustainable, and more efficient oil and gas operations for industry.
"BEA Technologies is an insight into how we see our future emerging as a creative and nimble energy producer, with Canadian heritage and Australian proficiency," he said.
"As far as I'm aware BEA Technologies is the only company offering the roadrunner early oil production system in Australia."
The unit will be sent to wellsite at the Caracal field in ATP 732, in the coming weeks.
When the roadrunner is not deployed at Bengal's own fields, it will be contracted out to other operators in the Cooper.
"This approach allows operators to obtain critical well performance data to right size its investment," Eberspaecher said.
"We have received strong interest from the industry, and I expect to see a surge in demand as the positive results for our clients continue to grow."
Eberspaecher noted that industry was used to "doing things the same way for decades" but the new roadrunner concept was proof the sector can innovate.
"BEA technologies is quickly becoming known for its nimble approach to boosting production, so we think there will be very quick industry acceptance of the roadrunner Early Oil Production Solution, especially considering it has already worked successfully a few decades ago overseas."
