TAQA launches Esaar™ mud motor

PATRICK CONNORS, TAQA Industrialization & Energy Services Company 

Fig. 1. The next-generation Esaar™ mud motor is a high-performance, service-friendly, downhole technology solution designed to meet the demands of increasingly challenging well environments.

TAQA (Industrialization & Energy Services Company) recently unveiled the next-generation Esaar™ mud motor (Fig. 1), a high-performance, service-friendly solution engineered to raise the bar in drilling operations. Built from decades of experience and enriched by real-world feedback, the Esaar™ motor is a step forward in downhole technology designed to meet the demands of increasingly challenging well environments. Its combination of durability, flexibility, and ease of maintenance positions it as a benchmark tool for modern operators. 

Today’s drilling challenges are more complex than ever. Operators are facing high-temperature geothermal wells, corrosive mud systems, extended laterals, ultra-deviated trajectories, and more. These conditions demand motors that are not only durable but also flexible and easy to maintain. Esaar™ addresses the realities that operators face every day. The major components of this tool are designed to improve performance, extend run life, and reduce the total cost of ownership.  

Core feature. The heart of Esaar™ is our mud-lubricated bearing pack (Fig. 2), a move away from the past oil-sealed systems that came with complex seals, regular flushing requirements, and increased cost-of-service delivery in today’s modern drilling environment. Essar’s advantages are clear: reduced failure points, extended run times, simplified maintenance, and improved performance in corrosive or high-torque conditions.

Fig. 2. Esaar’s™ mud-lubricated bearing pack is a move away from past oil-sealed systems that came with complex seals, regular flushing requirements, and increased cost-of-service delivery.

In field testing, this attribute contributes directly to motor longevity and consistent downhole behavior, even in wells that would typically challenge conventional motor designs. 

Field results. Esaar™ motors have already proven themselves in the field. In recent operations across the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey (MENAT), the motors have drilled more than 672,000 ft and logged nearly 8,000 circulation hours, Table 1. They’ve performed across vertical sections, curve builds, extended laterals, geothermal wells, and rotary steerable system (RSS) operations. These results confirm not only the motor’s durability but also its adaptability across a wide range of trajectory profiles and geological formations. 

Flexibility for many scenarios. Flexibility is one of the Esaar™ motor’s defining strengths. Available in sizes from 4.75 in. to 11.75 in., the motors can be configured with stabilized or non-stabilized housings, straight or adjustable bend designs, and even site-adjustable bends that allow crews to adapt in real time without pulling the motor. In today’s dynamic drilling programs, where trajectory changes and formation transitions can happen without warning, this ability to respond on location is a major advantage. 

In practice, that means fewer trips, less downtime, and more responsive decision-making. When trajectory needs to be adjusted, due to formation dip or unanticipated geologic boundaries, crews don’t need to send the motor back to base for adjustment. Instead, they can make the changes on-site, keep drilling, and maintain progress without sacrificing tool performance or integrity. 

Another key differentiator is that Esaar™ is not tied to a single power section provider. From the beginning, we designed the motor to be universally compatible, giving operators the freedom to select the power section that aligns best with their program—whether they’re optimizing for torque, RPM, flowrate, or specific bit design. This flexibility ensures that Esaar™ motors can integrate seamlessly into existing fleets and be customized to meet operator preferences or regional standards. 

In a competitive drilling environment, the ability to customize tools without vendor lock-in is essential. The Esaar™ platform supports this need by enabling mixed-fleet compatibility and true modular design. It also means we can quickly respond to operator requirements, whether they’re working in unconventional shale plays, offshore fields, or geothermal wells with extreme downhole conditions. 

Performance has been central in our design decisions for the Esaar™ motors. We incorporate larger outer-diameter internals, paired with custom radial and thrust bearings that enhance torque capacity, load transfer, and mechanical stability. 

An RSS version. Looking ahead, we’re preparing to launch the Esaar™ RSS motor, which extends the same mud-lubricated bearing technology into full rotary steerable compatibility. The RSS version is designed to maintain stable hydraulic performance throughout the run, even when dealing with long lateral sections or complex three-dimensional well paths. This is an important step, as operators continue to push into harder-to-reach formations with more intricate well designs. 

Esaar™ is also built for rapid serviceability. We understand that downtime is one of the costliest setbacks in a drilling program. That’s why we’ve made sure the motor can be quickly disassembled, repaired, and reassembled in the field. The motor features modular bearing and housing components and simplified internal architecture. This reduces turnaround times, eases logistics and inventory planning, and lightens the training burden for maintenance crews. It minimizes the number of spares required on location, shortens non-productive time, and enables more efficient planning across multi-rig operations. The ease of serviceability becomes an advantage in campaigns where time and cost discipline are critical. 

A fully supported solution. Esaar™ is promoted as part of a broader stack that includes real-time operations, geosteering, and well planning. That means we’re not just handing over a tool, we’re providing a fully supported solution that aligns with reservoir objectives and project economics. Whether customers are targeting unconventional hydrocarbons, geothermal energy, or extended-reach offshore wells, we bring together the people, tools, and insights to execute with confidence. 

Esaar™ reflects our broader performance philosophy: optimize efficiency, prioritize reliability, and reduce operational risk. It’s not enough for a motor to simply rotate the bit. In today’s market, motors need to deliver extended run times, adapt to evolving downhole conditions, and minimize service intervention. Esaar™ does all of this – and remains cost-effective. 

As drilling complexity increases, tools like Esaar™ are helping the industry stay ahead. Whether it’s corrosive muds, ultra-long laterals, high dogleg severity, or elevated bottomhole temperatures, Esaar™ motors are built to go the distance and get the job done. 

For end users evaluating their next-generation motor options, Esaar™ offers a compelling mix of field-proven performance, operational flexibility, and lifecycle value.   

PATRICK CONNORS is Directional Technology manager at TAQA Industrialization & Energy Services Company. Starting out on the offshore drilling side in the late 1990s across North America and South America, he then progressed to working for SLB in progressive drilling and measurements field and management roles. Mr. Connors advanced to deepwater integrated project management for international projects. After many years working abroad, he returned to North America as a regional manager with SLB in 2015. Mr. Connors worked as a consultant drilling SME for several deepwater operators and assisted in procurement campaigns in West and North Africa, and the Mediterranean. He also worked on the administration side of the contracts, once they were awarded and executed. The varied roles he has held throughout his oilfield career across multiple domains in multiple geographies are now being applied as part of the TAQA team.