The ELH was used to hang 18m of Weatherford's expandable sand screen inside 7-inch casing at a depth of 1066m. After the ELH was set, the ESS was expanded in the second trip.
Weatherford said the key to setting the ELH was the company's compliant rotary expansion system that employs a rotating radial force to expand the hanger rather than driving a fixed dimension cone through it.
Expandable technologies refer to both slotted and solid expandables, related tools and accessories, and specialised expansion systems. All share the ability for expansion after downhole installation.
Weatherford pioneered the application of expandables for downhole sand control with its ESS system. These systems were brought into commercial use during 2000 and 2001.
When expanded, the ESS allows greater borehole productivity and the ability to perform remediation work. Numerous ESS systems, totalling approximately 21km in length, have been successfully installed worldwide, according to Weatherford.