Made from carbon fibre resins the new pipe is lighter stronger and more flexible than steel and was developed under a four-year, $3.6 million cooperative agreement managed by DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory.

Although the composite material makes the pipe more expensive than traditional steel, it can cycle or rotate through a short radius bend for extended periods of time without suffering fatigue damage. Plus, it can be reused in multiple wells leading to a significant decrease in drilling costs.

The 2-½ inch diameter drill pipe may lead to the design of larger pipes for deep-water applications.