Volant’s HydroFORM Centralizers have since become the centralizer of choice for drilling, reaming, and completing critical, challenging, high-profile wells. Our patented and proprietary hydroforming technology utilizes high pressure water to precision form tubular steel into a variety of customizable shapes and profiles. The end result is a high-quality, high-strength, uni-body product with a smooth geometry. Available with wrap-around rib coverage, Volant centralizers are ideal for today’s complex well designs, helping to reduce torque and drag downhole, improve solids removal and fluid flow during casing or liner installation and enable a more uniform cement distribution.
The Choice is Yours
Volant HydroFORM Centralizers are available in standard and SlimLINE series.
SlimLINE series centralizers feature a 0.19” wall thickness and have been designed to provide a maximized flow area without sacrificing rib coverage or durability. The result is a lighter, more economical centralizer that is ideal for applications where the extreme durability of the standard series may not be required, but reliability and performance of the standard series is still desired. SlimLINE Centralizers are available for 4.5”, 5” and 5.5”O.D. tubulars, offered in a variety of rib O.D. and profile designs.
An Installation Solution for Your Application
Both the standard and SlimLINE series are available for floating and fixed applications.
In floating applications, the centralizer is allowed to move freely, both axially and rotationally, on the casing. As a result, the centralizer acts as a plain bearing on the pipe and is free to rotate downhole, allowing the centralizers to overcome irregularities in the wellbore during run-in. For floating installations, the centralizers can be placed between stop collars, couplings, or a combination of the two.
Recommended Installation Method
1. Deviated/Long/Extended Reach Wells (Floating & Fixed)
2. Casing or Liner Drilling (Fixed only)
3. Window Exiting, Sidetrack or Multi-Lateral Wells (Floating & Fixed)
4. Flush Joint Casing (Floating (with stop collars only) & Fixed)
5. Semi-Flush Connection Casing (Floating (with stop collars only) & Fixed)
Reliable Products for Reliable Results
The full range of Volant HydroFORM Centralizers help to deliver reliable well integrity and facilitate efficient reservoir development, offering the following features and benefits:
• One Piece, Steel, Uni-Body Construction
• Robust and durable, our centralizers remain intact under the most extreme running conditions
• Reduces the risk of sticking or unexpected hang-ups by ensuring there are no components to break or fail downhole
Smooth Geometry
• Enables smooth entry through the casing bowl and reduces risk of hang up
• Improves running efficiencies through reduced torque and drag
• Allows for improved hydraulic flow for fluids and solids removal
• Improved window exiting for side tracks and multilateral wells
Case Study
The Challenge
A North American based energy producer had been experiencing challenges running 4-1/2” liner in their extended reach horizontal wells in the Northern US Bakken formation, resulting in very inefficient and time consuming liner runs. Approximate details of these wells include a 25,000 ft. MD with a 10,000 ft. TVD and a 15,000 ft. horizontal section. The customer shared the following information about their previous liner runs:
• The composite rigid centralizers that had been previously utilized were being called into question when pieces of the centralizers where repeatedly found in the fluid returns at the shakers.
• Significant issues were being experienced during running (especially in the last 2,000 ft.), resulting in substantial amounts of additional time and effort needed to get the liner to TD.
The Solution
The customer identified Volant’s HydroFORM Centralizers as a viable solution for the next well due to their robustness.
Part of Volant’s response was to employ its inhouse applications engineering capabilities to determine the likelihood of the liner string experiencing running challenges associated with buckling-induced side loads.
Combining torque and drag analysis with a deep understanding of fundamental buckling mechanics, Volant was able to predict significant side loading resulting from buckling of the liner string in the heel section of the well; a common characteristic found in long reach horizontal wells.
Using proprietary centralizer placement strategies, Volant’s approach was to mitigate the incremental running friction from this type of buckling by way of optimizing the placement of Volant HydroFORM Centralizers. The end configuration saw a modest increase in the number of centralizers being recommended compared to previous wells of similar design, but with a more deliberate placement strategy.
The Results
The next available well was offset from the prior well and had a very similar configuration. Volant HydroFORM Centralizers were installed, free floating with stop collars, at the recommended engineered intervals. Other than utilizing Volant centralizers and Volant’s proprietary centralization placement program, no other changes were made to the liner running operation. TD was successfully reached in less than half the time it took for the previous run: 39 hours vs 91 hours, which is a substantial 57% reduction in run time.The customer was extremely pleased with the success of the placement strategy in combination with Volant HydroFORM Centralizers, noting that the centralizers had remained intact for the entire run.