NORTH
SEA SUCCESS FOR SONDEX CUTTER TOOL
22 Sep 2005
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An
advanced downhole cutting tool has been used
successfully to release a casing packer in
the Otter Field, north-east of Shetland –
one of the remotest oil developments in the
North Sea.
The
Downhole Electric Cutting Tool (DECT), developed
by Sondex, a British oilfield technology company,
was used by Aberdeen-based service company
Westerton Ltd, on behalf of TOTAL E&P
UK PLC. The operation to cut and release the
hydraulic retrievable pump packer was conducted
from the Stena Spey drilling rig at a depth
of 1,978 metres and with a well deviation
of 60 degrees.
DECT
is an intelligent system that enables precise
and controlled cutting action to part pipe
without the use of dangerous chemicals and
explosives – the traditional way of
severing tubing below the surface.
“The
successful deployment of this tool in such
challenging conditions confirms our confidence
in this technology,” said Martin Perry,
Chief Executive of Sondex. “We believe
the worldwide market potential is considerable
given the tool’s ease of use and its
clear safety and environmental advantages.”
Robin
Porter of Westerton Ltd said: “We were
delighted to see how successfully DECT was
able to tackle the problem in such a safe
and environmentally-friendly way. The tool
is unique in the way it allows the engineer
to control and adjust the cutting operation.
With this operation our window of opportunity
was just three inches. DECT was positioned
on depth and made the cut exactly where planned.
This was an excellent result for all concerned.”
Westerton
provides fishing and milling consultancy services
as well as the Sondex Downhole Electric Cutting
Tool. Westerton recognises that DECT’s
unique technology meets market requirements
to accurately cut pipe, packers and other
tubulars, thus improving fishing and retrieval
operations.
The
Sondex tool, released in 2003, has been used
successfully in a variety of operations in
North Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
Features of this electro-mechanical tool are
its ease of deployment, precision and user-controlled
cutting action.
For
further information please contact:
Anika
Ephraim, Sondex (aephraim@sondex.com), +44
(0) 118 932 6755
Robin
Porter, Westerton Ltd (robin.porter@westertoninternational.com),
+44 (0) 1224 868820
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