FlowCAT™ – A Retrofit Wireless Controlled Safety Valve
Expro is proud to have won a Spotlight on New Technology Award at the 2010 Offshore Technology Conference with the FlowCAT™ Wireless Safety Valve System.
Where the tubing retrievable safety valve or control line has failed, FlowCAT provides a more dependable alternative to ambient valves or storm chokes. Being retrofittable, surface controlled and fail-safe, FlowCAT provides a cost effective alternative to performing a well workover and enhances well safety.
Features & benefits
FlowCAT system developed with the support of Petrowell Ltd
Retrofittable into the well using conventional wireline equipment and procedures
A fail-safe valve controlled from surface using Expro’s well proven CaTS™ (Cableless Telemetry System)
Resettable from surface by the application of pressure
Non-elastomeric sealing faces for enhanced sealing and well safety
Capable of withstanding high differential unloading across the sealing faces
Qualification testing completed in accordance with a modified ISO 10432 class 1 test procedure
No wellhead modifications or recertification required
The ability to retrofit wireless flow control devices into wells’ through-tubing is an attractive option in several differing scenarios. Using the CaTS duplex communications capability, Expro’s FlowCAT™ offers a flow control solution that does not require a cable or control line to function and that can deliver benefits in both the brownfield and the intelligent well environments.
In the brownfield environment, producing every last drop of the hydrocarbon reserve is a key priority. In an attempt to access ‘stranded’ reserves, it is becoming common practice to use through-tubing rotary drilling (TTRD) to drill a lateral off the existing motherbore to tap into remote pockets of oil and gas that are not being produced by the main wellbore. Under such circumstances, being able to control flow from the lateral, independent of the main bore, presents some technical challenges. Since CaTS is a wireless solution that does not require a cable, then it is possible to communicate instructions to a flow control valve that has been retrofitted into the lateral by sending signals from the topside, down the main bore and into the lateral. In cases where the metallurgy of the motherbore and lateral are not physically connected, a ’short hop’ wireless communication technique to bridge the gap is being developed.
The FlowCAT also has applications when the tubing retrievable downhole safety valves fail. There are many wells around the world today which are currently shut-in and not producing due to damaged control lines or failed safety valves. The cost of working over the well to replace the valve is frequently not justified and thus the wells remain shut-in. The FlowCAT can be deployed via slickline as a replacement for a failed downhole safety valve. A signal is transmitted from surface which keeps the valve open. If the signal stops, or a ‘close’ command is received, then the valve closes and provides a fail-safe system.
For further information on Expro’s wireless technology, please contact:wireless@exprogroup.com
Wireless Flow Control
Expro is proud to have won a Spotlight on New Technology Award at the 2010 Offshore Technology Conference with the FlowCAT™ Wireless Safety Valve System.
Where the tubing retrievable safety valve or control line has failed, FlowCAT provides a more dependable alternative to ambient valves or storm chokes. Being retrofittable, surface controlled and fail-safe, FlowCAT provides a cost effective alternative to performing a well workover and enhances well safety.
View the FlowCAT animation
View the FlowCAT Datasheet
View the Downhole Camera System Brochure
For more information, contact:
Brian Champion
General Manager, Expro Wireless Well Solutions
+44 (0)120 281 2404
brian.champion@exprogroup.com
Press Releases:
Expro celebrates wireless monitoring success on Ormen Lange
Expro celebrates success of new retrofittable wireless controlled safety valve flowcat
In the brownfield environment, producing every last drop of the hydrocarbon reserve is a key priority. In an attempt to access ‘stranded’ reserves, it is becoming common practice to use through-tubing rotary drilling (TTRD) to drill a lateral off the existing motherbore to tap into remote pockets of oil and gas that are not being produced by the main wellbore. Under such circumstances, being able to control flow from the lateral, independent of the main bore, presents some technical challenges. Since CaTS is a wireless solution that does not require a cable, then it is possible to communicate instructions to a flow control valve that has been retrofitted into the lateral by sending signals from the topside, down the main bore and into the lateral. In cases where the metallurgy of the motherbore and lateral are not physically connected, a ’short hop’ wireless communication technique to bridge the gap is being developed.
The FlowCAT also has applications when the tubing retrievable downhole safety valves fail. There are many wells around the world today which are currently shut-in and not producing due to damaged control lines or failed safety valves. The cost of working over the well to replace the valve is frequently not justified and thus the wells remain shut-in. The FlowCAT can be deployed via slickline as a replacement for a failed downhole safety valve. A signal is transmitted from surface which keeps the valve open. If the signal stops, or a ‘close’ command is received, then the valve closes and provides a fail-safe system.
For further information on Expro’s wireless technology, please contact: wireless@exprogroup.com