Weatherford Completes World's Longest Expandable Sand Screen (ESS ® ) Installation

16 Oct 2000

Houston, October 16, 2000

HOUSTON, Oct. 16, 2000 - Weatherford International, Inc.'s (WFT: NYSE) Completion Systems division has installed and expanded the world's longest open hole horizontal Expandable Sand Screen (ESS) for BP in its Foinaven A field, located in the Faroe-Shetland basin, 120 miles (190km) West of Shetland.

It was run in well 204/24a-AN (P11) from the semi-submersible rig, the Transocean Leader (TOL), in water depths of approximately 500m. The 556 meters off ESS run marks BP's first successful installation.

According to BP, Foinaven is a known sand-producing field and prior to the ESS installation, screen-only completions had been installed. However, the company chose to deploy ESS following evidence of sand production from two other Foinaven wells.

"Although Weatherford's ESS technology was still in the early stages of development when we began looking at alternative sand control technologies, it offered certain advantages when compared to traditional sand screen installations," said Grahame Elliot, Senior Petroleum Engineer West of Shetland, BP. "The advantages included the elimination of the annulus between sand face and screen, potentially more effective future interventions and the potential future downsizing of wells."

P11 is a horizontal oil producer which was side-tracked from an existing appraisal well. The 5 1/2” 230 micron ESS was hung off on a liner hanger and then expanded. The ESS was deployed and expanded from the TOL in four days by a six man Weatherford crew, comprising three per shift. Planning is currently on-going on Foinaven's second installation of ESS.

Houston-based Weatherford International, Inc.

(www.weatherford.com) is one of the largest global providers of innovative mechanical solutions, technology and services for the drilling and production sectors of the oil and gas industry. Weatherford operates in over 50 countries and employs approximately 10,000 people worldwide.

Contacts:
Christine McGee 713-693-4362
Don Galletly 713-693-4148

Weatherford International, Inc.
515 Post Oak Blvd, Suite 600
Houston, Texas 77027
713-693-4000