Houston, U.S. | – Halliburton Completion Tools has released two new products: the EquiFlow Autonomous Inflow Control Device (AICD) and the VersaFlex XtremeGrip Expandable Liner Hanger System.
EquiFlow® Autonomous Inflow Control Device from Halliburton
According to Halliburton, the EquiFlow AICD allows for the most efficient recovery of oil in steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) producers. The tool—which works without any moving parts and has no electronics or elastomers—provides the highest level of reliability for the life of a well.
The EquiFlow AICD has been flow tested with steam, varying oils, and water. It has proven reliability in the hot temperatures of the SAGD environment.
EquiFlow AICD produces heavier, more viscous fluids, offering SAGD producers two additional benefits: 1) Flow is encouraged from high oil and cold zones. As these zones flow at higher rates, heat moves in that direction maximizing the utilization of the well. 2) When a steam breakthrough occurs, the EquiFlow AICD has shown 40% less steam flow over a passive nozzle ICD. At the same flow rate, the pressure drop of steam would be more than six times higher than oil flow.
According to an Ecuador-based case study detailed on Halliburton’s website, the Equiflow AICD reduced water production by 34%, increased oil recovery by up to 16%, and resulted in a significant return on investment.
Post-job production results showed that the tool helped Repsol recover an extra 21,000 bbl of heavy oil, as compared to standalone screens, in just 300 days, the study said.
Halliburton’s VersaStim expandable liner hanger (ELH) system optimizes the liner hanger configuration run in horizontal applications where conventional mechanical liner hangers or production packers are traditionally used to deploy liners.
The Houston-based company’s second new product, the VersaFlex XtremeGrip expandable liner hanger system, is ideal for deepwater/offshore applications and wherever long liners are deployed.
The new system takes the standard VersaFlex liner hanger to the next level. This high-performance, advanced metal sealing technology provides a fully compliant metal seal with a fully bonded resilient elastomeric seal to account for imperfections in the parent casing. Its ability to provide an ISO 14310 V0 tested, gas-tight seal on setting is surpassed only by its ability to provide enhanced hang-weight capabilities at temperatures above 350°F.
The VersaFlex XtremeGrip system is designed to mitigate risks and maintain hang-weight capabilities at elevated temperatures. The system offers increased robustness associated with liners and liner deployment. The hanger and running tool are assembled together and form an intrinsic packoff, which minimizes downhole tool components and potential leak paths while cementing.
The standard tool setup offers wash-down capabilities, rotation capabilities without bearings and simultaneously allows for reciprocation of the liner. Once the cement has been placed and the tool actuates the expansion process, the hanger is set to offer bi-directional load capabilities and provide a gas-tight, liner-top seal which eliminates remedial liner-top squeeze jobs after setting.
The unique body profile of the VersaFlex XtremeGrip system utilizes engineered extrusion limiter rings to provide metal-to-metal seal and full bi-directional anchoring capability in all casing grades at elevated temperatures. Its clean-form design offers a smooth radial flow path allowing for unrestricted bypass area, which assist in reducing ECDs during all phases of the operation.
