TPi September 2016

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business & market news
18 Tube ProducTS InTernaTIonal September 2016
Retrievable bridge plug
receives V0 certification
Peak Well Systems, a specialist in the
design and development of advanced
downhole tools for well intervention, has
reached a milestone in the development
programme for its Simultra range of
retrievable bridge plugs. The range of
available plugs has been extended into
5½" applications with the successful
ISO-14310 V0 gas testing of the 5½"
tool in 20lb API casing.
The results of the testing showed
repeatable zero bubble gas performance
over a single test sequence that
ranged from 175°C to 25°C, and from
7,500psi above to 7,500psi below the
seal. Additional testing of the same
5½" Simultra plug to 10,000psi was
expected to take place at a later date.
Peak was commissioned to conduct
the testing specifically by a leading
international oil operator that is interested
in utilising Simultra technology to reduce
cost in some of its challenging wells. All
tests were undertaken at Peak’s new
gas pressure testing facility located in
Aberdeen, UK, and were independently
witnessed and validated by a certified
third party authority.
Robin McGowan, chief technology
officer at Peak Well Systems, said,
“Proving V0 performance across such
a wide operating range in a single test
run without the need to break testing
into smaller temperature increments is
a huge achievement and demonstrates
not only the seal’s robustness but also
the technology’s unique capability
relative to traditional seals.”
The Simultra range was developed in
response to an industry need for a
high expansion, high performance plug
suitable for gas wells and challenging
applications. At its core is MetaPlex
– a hybrid metal-elastomer seal that
delivers both performance and improved
recovery reliability.
The MetaPlex sealing element expands
further than conventional V0 sealing
technologies, but retracts to a smaller-
than-original outside diameter, and
does not rely upon the memory of
the elastomer to retract the seal for
retrieval. It offers a larger internal flow
diameter compared to conventional V0
elastomeric seals, making it suitable for
other applications where restricted flow
is an issue.
The dual metal seal design protects
the elastomer element from hostile
well conditions, maintaining seal
integrity even in extreme downhole
environments and ensuring improved
reliability and retrievability.
Officially launched in November 2015,
Peak has now successfully achieved
V0 certification for its 4½" plug in
11.6lb to 15.1lb casing, as well as
for its 5½" plug in 20lb, which is also
suitable for 23lb casing. Peak aims
to have the complete Simultra range,
which will include a 7" plug, available
for sale or rental by Q3 2016.
Peak’s portfolio of products includes
solutions for flow control, routine
and high-deviation well intervention,
extending or restoring well integrity,
downhole data acquisition, heavy-duty
fishing, wellbore clean-up and debris
removal. The company has technology
centres in Perth (Australia), Aberdeen
(UK) and Dubai (United Arab Emirates),
supported with sales and rental offices
in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) as well as
distribution agents.
Peak Well Systems – Australia
MetaPlex seal after completing V0 test cycle
and recovered to smaller than its original
diameter
Peak Well Systems
gas pressure
testing facility