Nextitan

NexTitan vs. Tomax AST

Two different approaches to drilling hard rock. Tomax AST regulates torque through a passive mechanical response. NexTitan generates and controls weight on bit downhole, with a closed loop that responds in under 10 ms.

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Key benefits

Boost drilling performance
and reduce risk with NexTitan

Generate, control, and adjust force at the bit

NexTitan generates up to 30,000 lbf per unit, stackable for greater force at the cutting face.

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Keep drilling where anti stick slip tools struggle

NexTitan maintains steady ROP through formation changes. Passive anti stick-slip tools can only react to torque.

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Expand your drilling options

NexTitan optimizes drilling operations and costs by enabling coiled tubing across geothermal and oil & gas applications.

How it works

Competitive advantage

NexTitan vs.
Tomax AST

Operating Principle

Applies force at the bit

Active thrust

Contracts along helical splines under torque

reactive/passive

Force at the bit

Up to 13.6 MT / 30,000 lbf
per unit, stackable.

adds wob

None generated by tool

cannot add or control wob

Control loop

100 Hz closed-loop,
<10 ms response, downhole

closed loop downhole

Mechanical, ~20–30 ms response

open loop mechanical

Formation gripping

Hydraulically actuated grippers hold  the tool to the wellbore

Grips AT THE BIT

Relies on weight coming down the string

Passive

Hole size

216 - 241 mm / 8.5" - 9.5"

121 - 311 mm / 4.75" – 12.25"

Temperature

175°C circulating; up to ~300°C reservoir with active mud cooling

200°C standard

Length

11.31 m / 37.1 ft

5.44 m / 17.85 ft

Ultimate tensile load

433.4 MT / 955 klbs

522 MT / 1,151 klbs

make up torque

45,159 Nm / 33,300 ft-lbs

65,000 Nm / 48,000 ft-lbs

ROP in hard rock

Up to 3× in hard rock¹

Consistently faster

Improved via stick-slip mitigation

Depends on stick slip severity

Market Position

Next-generation, pre-commercial

Established

¹ NexTitan ROP, force and response-time figures are from GA Drilling deployment tests happening in Norway in 2026. Test summary available on request via the form below.

² Tomax AST specifications (hole size, temperature rating, length, ultimate tensile load, make-up torque, operating principle) are taken from Tomax AS published product documentation, retrieved in August 2026. GA Drilling has not independently tested Tomax AST.

Tomax AST is a trademark of Tomax AS, Stavanger, Norway. GA Drilling is not affiliated with Tomax AS. The two tools operate on different principles and this comparison is intended to help drilling engineers evaluate which approach suits their application.

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Why NexTitan

Steadier weight at the bit means less vibration and stick-slip, fewer surprises downhole, and a safer rig for your crew. Fewer trips, longer bit life, and less non-productive time bring down your cost per well.

Utilize different electronic modes

Set target rate of penetration (ROP), weight on bit (WOB), constant torque, differential pressure, and more based on the formation you’re drilling in.

Hydraulically powered

Optimize drilling costs and performance

Every time NexTitan goes downhole, its sensors feed data to Advansa AI. The tool learns from each run, so performance repeats across a basin and improves the more you drill.

fine-tune future runs

Drill further in a single run

String friction limits WOB delivery in long deviated sections. NexTitan applies weight at the bit directly, so you can drill longer laterals and access more resources.

Modelled ~70% lateral extension

Avoid getting stuck downhole

NexTitan has two mechanical retraction elements that don't require electronics or surface commands to execute. Depending on the failure mode, you either continue drilling with reduced capacity or execute a controlled trip.

behaves like stabilizer

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