HOUSTON, Aug 16, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Weatherford International Ltd. (NYSE: WFT) announced today that it has now installed 400 expandable systems in wells around the world.
The 400th installation was performed for BP in the Schiehallion Field, Deepwater West of Shetlands, and employed Weatherford's modular single-trip expandable completion system.
The system integrates Weatherford's Expandable Sand Screen (ESS(R)) technology with any conventional zonal isolation devices, including Weatherford's proprietary MetalSkin(R) solid expandable tubular system. The result is a modular reservoir management system that provides multiple zonal isolation in openhole completion, fluid loss control, and single-trip functionality.
Other benefits of the system include reduced well costs by eliminating the need for cementing and perforating, decreased rig time through ease of installation, and increased oil and gas recovery.
For the Schiehallion job, a swell packer was used in conjunction with Weatherford's Expandable Completion System to achieve zonal isolation of up- dip gas within the reservoir, and completion was delivered five days ahead of plan. First oil is expected within the next few weeks.
Weatherford will install another single-trip expandable completion system in the Schiehallion Field during the third quarter of this year and other candidate wells are currently being evaluated.
Weatherford has been accelerating the implementation of all expandable technologies, related tools and accessories since the mid-1990s. This track record includes breaking a number of new expandable technology barriers and setting several industry records, including the longest ESS installation to date.
In addition to its expandable completion system, Weatherford's innovative expandable technologies include:
"Weatherford has driven the uptake of expandable sand screens for more than five years. Building on this experience, we are now focused on a greater prize: using expandables to deliver high productivity, openhole completion that provide the same functionality as cased holes," said Stuart Ferguson, Weatherford's Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. "This installation reinforces our leadership in the application of expandable technology."
Weatherford's Expandable Completion Systems provide the organization capabilities, expandable technology understanding, system reliability and installation experience for effectively overcoming conventional completion design limitations.
Weatherford International Ltd. (http://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 100 countries and employs more than 18,000 people worldwide.
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SOURCE Weatherford International Ltd.