We specialize in innovative, cutting-edge expandable technology for the energy industry. Due to our vast experience in this field, we can provide niche, large-scale and fast-track solutions that couldn’t have been achieved using conventional technology.
Our aim is to create wellbore integrity liners for the most demanding applications, namely in the highly corrosive environments by using the most corrosive resistant materials suitable for expansion.
technology background
The early days to today...
Solid expandable tubular technology traces its roots to the late 90’s, which is when the concepts started to be field-ready for deployment. At its very core, this technology consists of a cone that radially expands a tubular downhole under the application of pressure or force.
The early systems consisted of simple, yet effective bottom-up, hydraulic expansion systems, which comprise of a cone located on a pre-expanded short tubular section sealed by a plug. Upon application of pressure, the cone travels upwards thereby expanding the tubular down hole. A subsequent trip downhole is needed to drill the plug out, thus making this a two-trip system, thereby increasing costs, especially in offshore rigs where the daily rental of a rig can well exceed the hundreds of thousands of USD per day.
More complicated systems have been developed starting in the early 2010s, some of which can be categorized as “tractor” type systems (MetalSkin, MetalPatch, etc), due to its inch-worm dynamic nature. These systems offer great benefits when expanding under high expansion ratios, in restricted wells, on a top-down or bottom-up configuration, while avoiding the need of a dedicated drill out run for any plug left downhole.
Xpandtec’s vision is to set the stage for the third wave of innovation of expandable technology, by offering innovative, reliable and cost-effective systems.
The Applications:
Expandable technology can be the corner stone for many applications, especially for the upstream oil and gas industry. Some of these applications are:
· WELL INTEGRITY: Casing patches can be deployed in well integrity scenarios ranging from patching leaks in casing connections, to water shut-off, to corroded casing. Whatever your needs are, we can customize a system to fix your well and bring it back to production with minimal loss in diameter.
· DRILLING LINERS: Expandable liners and clads can help with planned drilling programs in order to minimize casing strings and/or gain diameter for your drill bit. We can also provide planned solutions for mechanical stabilization of sloughing formations in high dog-leg sections, and contingency solutions such as for lost circulation zones for depleted reservoirs.
· REFRACS: Expandable refrac liners have been proven to effectively re-vitalize underproducing, horizontal wells after primary production. You don’t need to drill and complete a new well to increase production, just refurb an old one at a fraction of the cost and CO2 emissions.