Solid Expandable Systems Put Deepwater Targets Within Reach

Enabling technologies that take drilling operations to deeper objectives have made a significant impact on the practicality of many projects, especially deepwater offshore targets. Increasing vertical depth and lateral reach requires adequate hole size to attain the desired objectives of the wellbore. Solid expandable technology can maintain and retain hole size to address both the physical limitations and the economic feasibility of deepwater operations. With each and every casing point, the potential for adequate hole size at total depth (TD) decreases. Solid expandable openhole liners and single-diameter systems reduce and eliminate, respectively, the wellbore tapering that dictates hole size at TD and subsequent completion size. Successful mitigation of this tapering, whether through the entire wellbore or through select zones, enables operators to gain access to previously unreachable reserves. Solid expandable systems have proven to be reliable and effective with over 1,000 installations in a myriad of conditions and environments worldwide. To date, over 115 of those applications have been in deepwater environments. The current operating envelope for solid expandable systems include the deepest installation at ~28,750 ft (8,763m) and the longest at 6,867 ft (2,083m) in water depth over 3,150 ft (960m). This record-length application consisted of an openhole liner installed and expanded in a single run. This paper will discuss the effectiveness of solid expandable systems in deepwater operations and how the technology brings value to offshore projects especially when planned into the initial design. Case histories will be used to further illustrate the features, advantages, and benefits of expandable technology. In addition, this paper will examine the state of the solid expandable technology and its continuing evolution to provide even more drilling solutions.