ExxonMobil Awards MazeFlo? Sand Control Screen License to Weatherford
Sand screen enhances reliability in openhole completion wells
Developed by ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company with Weatherford
Screens and best practices will be made available industry-wide after
field testing
ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company announced today that it has awarded
Weatherford International Ltd. the first global license for the
company′s MazeFlo sand control screens for oil wells.
MazeFlo is a patented technology developed by ExxonMobil to improve the
reliability of wells completed in sand-prone reservoirs. MazeFlo
technology uses redundant screens and a maze of compartments to provide
a self-healing capability against sand entering the producing section of
a well. Each compartment contains a primary screen, outer housing, flow
baffles and a secondary screen. If a primary screen erodes, sand will
flow into the affected compartment and accumulate on the secondary
screen. Fluid continues to flow to adjacent compartments with undamaged
primary screens and can be produced without active involvement from
surface operators.
'MazeFlo is one of several openhole sand control completion technologies
developed by ExxonMobil during the past few years to address reliability
issues in high-cost production wells,? said Sara N. Ortwein, president
of Houston-based ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company. 'Reliability is
very important in deepwater and remote fields where the resource has
been developed with high volume wells.?
The screens utilizing MazeFlo technology were developed under a joint
development agreement with Weatherford and will be installed and tested
in ExxonMobil production wells during the next two years. MazeFlo
screens along with technology enhancements and best practices will be
made available industry-wide following ExxonMobil′s field testing.
'The MazeFlo technology brings together a high performance sand-screen
solution that is simple in design and promises increased reliability. We
are delighted to partner with ExxonMobil in the development of such an
innovative technology,? stated Bill Rouse, vice president, well
completion technologies for Weatherford.
About ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company is the Upstream research affiliate
of Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), a leading global oil, natural
gas, and petrochemicals company with operations in nearly 200 countries
and territories worldwide. ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company is
charged with developing an industry-leading array of proprietary
technologies that support the Corporation's continued leadership
position in exploration, development, production and gas
commercialization.
About Weatherford International Ltd.
Weatherford (NYSE/Euronext Paris/SIX:WFT) is a Swiss based,
multi-national oilfield service company. It is one of the largest
global providers of innovative mechanical solutions, technology and
services for the drilling and production sectors of the oil and gas
industry. Weatherford operates in over 100 countries and employs over
59,000 people worldwide.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Statements in this release regarding future events
or conditions are forward-looking statements. Actual future results,
including the performance of new technology, could differ materially
depending on geologic conditions, technical or operating factors, and
other factors discussed under the heading 'Factors Affecting Future
Results' on the 'Investors' section of our website at www.exxonmobil.com.
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