Prefracturing expandable steel patches

Our prefracturing patches use field-proven Saltel Xpandable™ expandable steel technology and are rated up to 302 degF [150 degC]. They seal securely, while allowing passage of fracturing equipment (such as frac plugs or CT shifting tools), and withstand hydraulic fracturing pressures up to 10,000 psi [69 MPa]. Download the datasheet for detailed specifications.

Restore casing integrity to allow high fracturing pressures across damaged completions (such as leaking DV tools, split casings, or damaged frac ports that open prematurely) with minimal loss of ID.

Saltel expandable steel patches are a permanent solution, capable of molding to irregular geometries. Expanded with an inflatable packer downhole, the prefracturing patch has a special design to ensure sealing against the irregular profile of frac ports; it creates a high-pressure inner lining that seals off and protects damaged casing or tubing from further loss of integrity. Overlapping patches can be used across long breaches. The large ID enables nearly unrestricted access to the wellbore below, so drilling, completion, or well intervention operations can continue and frac plugs, frac balls, and most bottomhole assemblies can pass through as required. Using these patches to seal off unwanted perforations can save multiple days of rig time—hence reducing cost and emissions—and significantly improve the likelihood of success compared with cement squeezes.

Our engineered system provides a resilient and reliable seal that is able to withstand significant differential pressures and thermal cycling, which can compromise the integrity of alternative sealing technologies over time. In addition to the profiled external seals, the patches can be secured with anchoring strips to mitigate slippage risks due to axial loads and withstand the lateral forces and wear encountered if drilling ahead. The patch can be run on tubing, drillpipe, or coiled tubing.

The patch is made of high-quality stainless steel with an elastomer outer skin. It uses a profiled sealing system that conforms to varying IDs and is applied and cured in a controlled environment during manufacturing, employing different materials based on the application requirements—unlike the field-applied epoxy resin used by some providers.