For over two decades, Howco Norway has been a trusted name in the manufacture and supply of polished bore receptacle (PBR) extensions, providing critical components to the oil and gas sector across Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, and the Americas.
With a heritage rooted in engineering excellence, Howco is now expanding its reach into the geothermal market.
What is a PBR?
The polished bore receptacle (PBR) is a precision-engineered honed tubular, produced with extremely tight manufacturing tolerances to ensure optimal sealing performance.
PBRs are typically part of a liner hanger or completion assembly and play a critical role in maintaining system integrity under challenging subsurface conditions.
The design includes a special chamfer at the upper end of the pipe, facilitating smoother insertion of drilling tools.
The lower end can be configured to connect with a liner packer or setting sleeve, depending on the application.
This high-performance product is available in all material grades commonly used in the oil and gas industry, including nickel alloys where Howco is particularly strong and in a position to support short lead times.
A trusted supplier with proven experience
Since opening in 1999, Howco Norway has supplied thousands of PBR extensions globally.
Over the past 26 years, the team has developed deep expertise and strong customer relationships, making Howco a go-to supplier for major service companies worldwide. Howco manufactures PBRs that meet the toughest industry standards. Whether for use in offshore drilling platforms or complex wellbore assemblies, each PBR is guaranteed to offer long-lasting reliability, superior sealing, and seamless integration into liner systems ranging from 3½” to 16″.
Transitioning into geothermal energy
As global attention turns towards sustainable energy sources, technologies long relied upon in the oil and gas sector are finding new life in emerging markets. The geothermal energy industry, which uses similar drilling techniques and infrastructure, has become a natural extension of Howco Norway’s offering.
Geothermal power plants extract heat from underground reservoirs to produce steam or hot liquid that powers turbines, generating electricity. These fluids are then reinjected into the earth to sustain the reservoir.
For Geothermal District Heating Projects (GeoDH), the heat stored deep beneath the Earth’s surface is used to transport hot water or steam to buildings through a distribution network of pipes. As such, these applications rely heavily on robust liner systems and components like PBRs that can withstand extreme pressure and temperature conditions.
Howco Norway delivered its first PBRs for geothermal use at the end of 2024. These components were shipped to Germany as part of a liner system ultimately destined for use in Austria.
Our global manufacturing network and long-standing engineering expertise means Howco can deliver custom PBR solutions quickly and reliably wherever they’re needed – demonstrating once again that innovation and experience can go hand in hand in building a better energy future.
