|
|
|
Enventure Global Technology Makes Breakthrough In Deepwater Drilling Technology
Houston, Texas - Enventure Global Technology announces a major breakthrough in deepwater drilling with its 13 3/8- × 16-in.expandable-tubular system. Enventure can now expand connected strings of 13 3/8-in. (outside diameter) casing to an approximate 15-in. outside diameter and 14 1/4-in. inside diameter.
Enventure expects that its new 13 3/8- × 16-in. system will enable operators to save a casing string by extending their 16-in. shoe across a lost-circulation zone that usually occurs within 500 to 1,000 ft. of drill out. Lance Cook, Enventure's general manager of Technology Development, said, "The prototype of this system should be ready for field trials by mid-May, and we are currently discussing initial applications with several interested operators. After field trials, we believe that this system will be proven for contingency applications such as extending 16-in. casing shoes."
Enventure's expandable-tubular systems address numerous drilling and completion challenges and can especially enhance deepwater operations, one of the industry's highest priorities. The limited-liability company's first focus is expandable-tubular products, which are expected to revolutionize the design and construction of oil and gas wells. The smaller hole size that expandable-tubular technology allows can provide access to previously unreachable reservoirs; it can also reduce drill time and the size of drilling equipment, including lay-down areas and auxiliary equipment required on offshore platforms.
Richard C. Haut, Ph.D., general manager of Business Development for Enventure, added, "In operators' bottom-line terms, expandable-tubular systems should lower overall project costs. We are managing our plan to introduce the technology as quickly as possible. There is, however, a large experimental component in what we are developing. Our philosophy is to offer technology that is 'right the first time.' Our strategy is to do our homework and to work closely with our customers in identifying potential applications. We test real-field applications at our facilities to minimize potential problems. This exercise is an expensive one, but we believe that the cost will be recouped with a steeper learning curve, better tools and procedures, and substantially reduced rig time during real application. At the same time, we want our customers to understand the potential risks and to concur with our contingencies. We want to be very open about our capabilities and deployment reliability."
The successful results of an exhaustive testing program throughout 1998 and into this year substantiate the feasibility of these objectives. In the hands of some of the industry's most experienced and knowledgeable talent, the innovative expandable-tubular technology and its applications show great promise.
Enventure's web site (www.EnventureGT.com) shows the technology in action and describes its applications in more detail. Expandable-tubular systems can:
| • |
enable operators to drill deeper vertical wells and farther extended-reach deviated wells; |
| • |
provide access to reservoirs that cannot be reached economically with other available technology; |
| • |
meet deepwater drilling challenges, such as those in the subsalt of the Gulf of Mexico; |
| • |
give new life to old wellbores by increasing burst rating or repairing damaged casing by cladding expanding casing inside of existing tubulars. |
Enventure is an equal partnership between Shell Technology Ventures, Inc. and Halliburton Energy Services, a business unit of Halliburton Company (NYSE: HAL). Enventure develops and commercializes advanced-technology systems for the energy sector. Enventure Global Technology, L.L.C., manages domestic operations; its international counterpart is Enventure Global Technology v.o.f.
Through 2001, Enventure's products and services are available to any of Halliburton's worldwide locations and to any Shell locations, other than the North Sea, where Shell has at least a 5-percent working interest. By the end of that year, however, operators from any international location will be able to take advantage of the joint venture's high-technology offerings.
Contact
Julia Humphreys
Halliburton Company
(p) 713.676.3875
Back to Top
| |
|
