A National Oil Company (NOC) in the Middle East had designed and planned a 12-zone smart completion and required a reliable anchor for the toe section.

Whilst the client had previous experience with alternative hydraulically set production packers, positive feedback from other regions had helped identify the Welltec® Expandable Anchor (WEA) for Inner-String Packer as a highly reliable and efficient solution for the required completion application. Plus, prior modelling had illustrated how the WEA could be installed via a reduced expansion pressure.

Furthermore, Welltec was able to meet the client’s preferred lead time of just seven weeks, even with a slip design change which was needed in order to avoid galvanic corrosion over the life-of-well.

The 6 5/8” lower completion was run to 21,546 ft-md, with 10,421ft of pre-perforated liner with water swell-packers inside an 8.5" hole.

After a clean-out run, the 3 ½” smart completion was run inside the 6 5/8” liner, consisting of 12-zones of 3 ½” Inflow Control Valves (ICVs), control lines, and a 3 ½” bullnose at the toe.

A Welltec Expandable Anchor (WEA) for Inner-String Packer was run above the bullnose and the tubing hanger was landed. The bottom-most ICV was opened, and mud breaker fluid was spotted in the lateral – then, all 12 ICVs were closed. The production packer was set via 2,700 psi and following a successful test, pressure was re-applied to set the 534WEA.

The WEA for Inner-String Packer provided the client with a reliable metal expandable anchor at the foot of the well, capable of handling the high level of loading force that will be created when the well is stimulated during subsequent stages.

Not only was the product designed and qualified within a short timeframe, but was on site one week early to help maintain the well schedule.