Weatherford International plc (WFTIQ) has announced its largest-ever contract for deep-set safety valves. Under terms of a deal with Brazilian-based multinational corporation Petróleo Brasileiro S.A., more commonly known as Petrobras, Weatherford will deliver 24 Optimax™ deep-set safety valves in the next four years.
Weatherford, a traditional safety valve technology company, is now extending its legacy reliability to the deep and ultra-deepwater market. The Optimax deep-set safety valve protects against catastrophic loss of well control by providing fail-safe closures at pressure up to 10,000 psi (68 MPa) and are rated for setting depths as deep as 12,000 ft (3,658 m). The valves are monogrammed to API-14A’s highest validation grade of V1.
The Weatherford Optimax deep-set safety valve is a victory in innovative thinking,” said Mark Hopmann, President of Completions for Weatherford. Hopmann added, “Conventional deep-set valves typically require nitrogen-charged chambers to compensate for the high hydrostatic pressure of the control line. The Optimax deep-set safety valve overcomes this challenge with a design that utilizes highly reliable, field-proven technology.”
An integral part of the completion string, the Optimax deep-set safety valve is controlled by a primary hydraulic control line. The application of control-line pressure keeps the valve in the open position. When pressure is bled off, the valve closes to protect property, personnel, and the environment. A secondary upward-facing piston, plus heavy-duty power springs, enable fail-safe closure while keeping the hold-open pressure to a minimum.
