Page 44: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (May/Jun 2019)

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FEATURE TECH Drilling & Completions

Because of evolving industry needs, 15,000 psi and 375 degrees Fahren-

TIW developed variants on the XPak heit conditions and loads of 1 million theme, including one for HPHT condi- pounds in tension and 800,000 pounds tions and the Double Expansion XPak in compression.

Liner System, which eliminates the need The 7-5/8 inch OD x 12-1/4 inch for ? xed landing pro? les and risk asso- OD hanger design required enhance- ciated with sub-mudline hangers when ments from the standard XPak offering installing casing in larger diameter sur- to meet the challenges of HPHT condi- face casing, thus increasing operational tions. For example, Royer says, the slip ? exibility and providing cost savings. design changed some to provide better anchoring capability with the use of

Doubling down multiple rows of staggered slips.

The Double Expansion XPak (DE For the quali? cation test, Dril-Quip

XPak) deploys through wellhead restric- built a full-scale replica liner hanger tions to provide a metal-to-metal sealing and built a test ? xture around the as- within seamed, thin-wall surface casing sembly. Testing subjected the XPak (22 inch OD x 1 inch wall) and offers hanger system to combined loading, high hanging, lockdown and pressure tension, compression and internal and capacities. The expandable liner hanger external pressure. “For HPHT, we ex- system is intended for large bore wells ceeded the burst pressure ratings of the with thin walls. As with the XPak, the DE liner,” Royer says.

XPak expander remains installed in the Third-party facility testing revealed hanger body, providing structural support the system could withstand internal that permit higher loads and pressures. pressures of 21,750 psi at 60 degrees

The double expansion process is Fahrenheit and 15,000 psi at 375 de- achieved with a pressure activated, grees Fahrenheit to meet the customer’s multi-piston hydraulic tool used to ex- statement of requirements.

pand and displace an expander, which “What makes this HPHT quali? ca- in turn expands the XPak hanger body tion unique is we are satisfying two dif- to contact and interfere with the host ferent drilling groups: injection wells casing. The expander provides tieback with lower temperatures and production capability via a polished bore receptacle wells with higher temperatures,” Royer and remains installed inside the hanger says. “It’s a pretty dramatic temperature body for the lifetime of the installation. difference for a system that has to seal

The DE XPak can be placed as de- and anchor the way this liner hanger sired after running the 22-inch casing system will have to perform.” rather having to be installed in a ? xed Testing wrapped up in early 2018, location, Royer notes. It will seal inside and the customer has deployed the a seamed pipe. HPHT XPak Expandable Liner Hanger

A supermajor has expressed interest system four times in the deepwater Gulf and applications for the DE XPak in the of Mexico, Royer says.

Gulf of Mexico and offshore Brazil us- System development and quali? ca- ing the double expansion technology, tion of the 7-5/8 inch OD x 12-1/4 inch

Royer says. OD HPHT XPak Expandable Liner

The DE XPak is available in 18 inch Hanger system has allowed the cus-

XPak

OD x 22 inch OD (1 inch wall). tomer to run 7-5/8 inch OD and 8-5/8

Expandable inch OD liner systems using the same

Liner Hanger

Under pressure hanger system. The design incorporat-

System

Following a customer request in ed the request to make the hanger sys-

Source: Dril-Quip late 2017, TIW set about engineering tem more versatile and applicable for a version of the XPak that could meet future installations. 44 OFFSHORE ENGINEER OEDIGITAL.COM