HOUSTON, Apr 28, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Weatherford International Ltd. (NYSE: WFT) today announced that it has successfully installed four compliantly expanded Solid Expandable MetalSkin(TM) casing repair systems for Imperial Oil Resources, at its Cold Lake field in Alberta, Canada. The successful installation of the casing repair system returned the four wells to service.
MetalSkin is a metal-to-metal expandable casing system designed to solve problems that occur when reservoir and fluid production conditions have changed, or when the casing has worn, corroded or been damaged.
At Cold Lake, the MetalSkin system was applied using Weatherford's patented compliant rotary expansion system (CRES(TM)) to repair casing leaks. The CRES technique forms the MetalSkin to the casing being repaired, accommodating irregularities within the parent casing. This provides metal- to-metal contact around the entire circumference of the casing and thus provides a tight seal. After expansion, the MetalSkin becomes an integral part of the casing string, allowing the wells to be returned to active production.
"Weatherford is continuing to build its range of solid tubular technologies that will ultimately make the single-diameter well a reality for a variety of applications," said Stuart Ferguson, President, Weatherford Completion Systems. "The commercialization of MetalSkin for our customers is just one more example of how we are getting closer to reaching this goal."
With almost 200 installations of expandable systems worldwide, Weatherford is the global leader in the commercialization of expandable technologies. Weatherford offers reservoir completion systems, such as Expandable Sand Screens (ESS(TM)), and well construction and remediation systems, such as Alternative Borehole Liners (ABL(TM)), Expandable Liner Hangers (ELH(TM)) and MetalSkin(TM). A fundamental advantage of Weatherford's systems is the use of compliant expansion techniques.
Weatherford 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 100 countries and employs more than 15,000 people worldwide.
For further information contact:
Christine McGee (713) 693-4362 christine.mcgee@weatherford.com
Don Galletly (713) 693-4148 don.galletly@weatherford.com
SOURCE Weatherford International Ltd.
Christine McGee, +1-713-693-4362, or christine.mcgee@weatherford.com , or Don Galletly, +1-713-693-4148, or don.galletly@weatherford.com , both of Weatherford International Ltd. /Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990308/WEATHERFORDLOGO PRN Photo Desk, +1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840 (WFT)