Baker Oil Tools Develops Expandable Sealing Technology

HOUSTON, TX (November 6, 2006) – Baker Oil Tools recently added metal-to-metal, high-expansion Z-Seal™ technology to its product portfolio, increasing the capability of its downhole equipment to provide pressure integrity, particularly in hostile, high-pressure/high-temperature (HP/HT) environments.

The Z-Seal technology is a new, innovative, high-expansion sealing device that uses expanding metal in place of elastomers to form a high-integrity pressure seal on the tubular wall. The seal is made entirely of metal, making it highly insensitive to temperature failure modes and able to withstand high-pressure forces. Because it contains no elastomers, the Z-Seal dramatically improves downhole equipment performance in many well intervention applications and makes intervention possible in hostile well environments previously deemed inoperable. The metal seal expands to up to 160% of its original size while maintaining true HP/HT performance. It also uses applied differential pressure to exert additional self-energizing load to reinforce the seal.

The Z-Seal system can be fully retracted in applications that require tool retrieval. Eliminating elastomers also dramatically improves downhole equipment performance by eliminating conventional failure modes such as temperature or chemical degradation, fatigue and shearing.

Z-Seal technology offers many additional advantages, including: a lower profile, a smaller OD for protection from mechanical damage, easier retrieval and less debris, chemical and gas resistance, and conformance to irregular bore shapes. Its operational advantages and engineering innovation have already resulted in two major industry awards: The 2006 OTC Spotlight on Technology and Meritorious Engineering Awards.

Initial applications of Z-Seal technology in bridge plugs and straddle assemblies have proven the technology and the potential of the products in the well-servicing market. Currently Z-Seal technology is being used as a medium- to high-expansion solution for bridge plugs, straddle systems and flow-control devices.

For more information about Baker Oil Tools, visit www.bakeroiltools.com.

Baker Oil Tools is a world leader in well completion and intervention solutions.

Baker Hughes is a leading provider of drilling, formation evaluation, completion and production products and services to the worldwide oil and gas industry.
Z-Seal Technology

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