Initial liner top integrity is a primary concern for most operators. If the liner top fails routine or regulatory integrity tests, expensive and time-consuming remedial operations increase direct costs for equipment and services. This remediation delays well completion, which ultimately delays revenue generation. These expenses often exceed the initial cost of the liner equipment. Liner top failure continues to challenge the industry despite improvements in integrally run liner top packers, special cements, and cementing pratices. Even newer generation liner top packers, run either integrally with the liner hanger or as a second trip packer, have multiple sealing surfaces that must function under rigorous conditions to achieve liner top isolation. The expandable liner hanger has been developed and successfully field-tested as an alternative to conventional "cone and slip" liner hangers and liner top isolation packer systems. The expandable liner hanger combines the functions of the liner hanger and the isolation packer into a single component. The expandable liner hanger uses elastomeric "bands" to provide the axial load capacity of a conventional liner hanger and the annular sealing capability of the liner top isolation packer. The expandable liner hanger is expanded hydraulically with the liner running/setting tool assembly. During expansion, the elastomeric bands are compressed into contact with the ID of the supporting/intermediate casing, virtually eliminating the annular space between the liner hanger and the casing. This paper discusses expandable liner hanger design criteria and testing undertaken to qualify the expandable liner hanger as a reliable liner top isolation system. Initial field installations and the lessons learned are also discussed. Introduction The importance of the liner-casing overlap is illustrated by the efforts and expense taken by operators to ensure hydraulic integrity of the overlap. Typical methods of achieving pressure integrity include the following:Cement "squeezes," including a liner top packer as a component of the initial liner hanger settingOne or more "second-trip" liner top isolation packers installed to control gas migration at the liner top The typical liner top is complex in its design (Fig. 1) and can develop leaks due to a myriad of causes1. A recent informal survey of several GOM operators revealed that 30 to 50% of pressure seals in overlaps fail. One operator made a concerted effort to improve liner running and cementing procedures. Data gathered over an 18-month period was used to shed light on possible causes of overlap failure by gathering information on liner/casing sizes, types of equipment, overlap length, mud data, annular cross section, equipment, and service suppliers. The study concluded the chances of having a liner overlap seal failure did not depend on any single factor and the chances for an incident were nearly the same regardless of the factors associated with any given well2.
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