Cesium Formate Success Continues in the North Sea
HOUSTON, Dec 8, 1999 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Cabot Corporation (NYSE:CBT), today announced the second major application of Cabot Specialty Fluids' new Cesium Formate drilling and completion fluid. The innovative, high density, solids-free fluid was successfully used in a record well completion operation for Total Oil Marine p.l.c. in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea. The completion operation was conducted on TOTALFINA's Dunbar Platform located in block 3/14a in the East Shetland basin. The Dunbar field is operated by Total Oil Marine p.l.c., the U.K. exploration and production subsidiary of the TOTALFINA Group which holds a 33.33 % interest. The other partner, Elf Exploration UK PLC holds a 66.66 % interest.
The D22 well utilized 1.9 s.g. (15.9 ppg) Cesium/Potassium Formate in a completion operation on an extended reach departure (ERD) well, drilled from the Dunbar platform to provide information on the long-term productivity of the Dunbar South structure. TOTALFINA engineers turned to the Cesium Formate mixture, a new innovation from Cabot Specialty Fluids, after initial attempts to complete the well met with sustained and costly difficulties. The well was initially drilled to a measured depth of 7,353 meters (24,124 feet), with a true vertical depth of 3,492 meters (11,457 feet), and a horizontal displacement of 5,655 meters (18,553 feet). In terms of length and horizontal displacement, the well is a record for Total Oil Marine p.l.
"New technologies continue to provide industry's best operating companies with improved means of evaluating and producing their hydrocarbon assets," says U.R. Weems, President of Cabot Specialty Fluids Division. "Cesium Formate, a new and innovative fluid technology, helped meet the operational challenges faced by TOTALFINA's engineers in completing this well. This technology assisted TOTALFINA to evaluate a reservoir structure 7.4 kilometers (4.6 miles) from their platform - a significant achievement."
TOTALFINA engineers selected Cesium/Potassium Formate for the tough completion effort because it provided the required density and a solids-free environment; was easy for crews to handle and non-damaging to the environment; proved compatible with all major elements of completion equipment, and, featured a low co-efficient of friction. Cesium/Potassium Formate's low co-efficient of friction, beneficial lubricity, successfully promoted the running of the completion and coiled tubing strings into the long, highly deviated well; a task previously attempted with conventional oil based fluids. The well was subsequently brought on stream and is currently producing 6,000 bbls of oil and 0.4 million m3 of gas per day.
A more detailed description of the completion operation is available by contacting Cabot Specialty Fluids at 1-888-CSDRILL. This is the second successful application of Cesium Formate in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea, following its use during a completion operation for Shell UK Exploration and Production (Shell Expro) in the Central Graben area.
Cabot Specialty Fluids is a business division of Cabot Corporation. Founded in 1882 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Cabot Corporation is a global specialty chemical, materials and energy company with 1999 sales of $1.7 billion. Along with Specialty Fluids, Cabot's major business units include carbon black, fumed silica, inkjet colorants, microelectronics materials, performance materials, plastics and liquefied natural gas.
_______
DRT |
