SAFETHERMIn deepwater, use our systematic flow-assurance

approach to make sure you’re not left out in the cold

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Specifically engineered for deepwater, permafrost and other cold-temperature environments, SAFETHERM aqueous-base or water-miscible fluid provides thermal protection for your produced oil.

Features• Uniquely engineered to minimize

heat conduction and convectiveheat loss

• Easily mixed and pumpedon the rig

• Environmentally acceptablecomponents

• Behavior modeling withproprietary heat-transfercomputer model

• pH-buffered and corrosion-inhibitive

• Thermally stable

Benefits• Prevents production-line blockage

and casing-string collapse

• Is formulated for compatibilitywith a wide range of elastomersand fluids and with surface-processing equipment

• Enables modeling of fluidthermal behavior for productionand shut-in scenarios

• Reduces costs

• Helps maximize production

SAFETHERM insulating packer fluid andTPRO ST modeling software work tokeep the heat on your production

� A P P L I C A T I O N S

Deepwater and ultra-deepwaterwells that require thermal protectionto maintain produced liquid quality,prevent annular pressure buildup,and provide threaded connection,elastomer seal and cement-bondintegrity. Also beneficial in protectingpermafrost from producing wells inArctic areas.

� P R O B L E M S

Subsea temperatures can cool andchange the properties of producedfluids. Temperature cycling can loosenthreaded connections and compro-mise the integrity of cement andelastomer seals. Heat transfer on pro-ducing wells in the Arctic can causethawing of permafrost, leading to lossof well seal integrity or well stability.

� S O L U T I O N S

SAFETHERM* fluid, a water-base systemthat controls conduction and convec-tion, combined with our proprietaryTPRO ST* computer modeling soft-ware, offers maximum protectionagainst thermal-cycling-relatedproduction problems.

� E C O N O M I C S

Prevents production problems causedby changes in produced-fluid qualityand production-string seal integrity.Controls thermally generated annularpressure buildup.

� E N V I R O N M E N T A L

This water-base system has earned aClass E designation for the North Sea.For GoM applications, it contains nofree oil and produces no sheen.

In the deepwater environment, initi-ating production, testing or shuttingin for well intervention carry distinc-tive flow-assurance risks that couldthreaten your investment.

The combination of cold temper-ature and high pressure can lead totemperature cycling in the wellbore,salt precipitation, or the formationof production-blocking hydrates,paraffin or asphaltenes — any ofwhich can seriously jeopardizeyour entire project.

To give you the upper hand,M-I SWACO* has developed a com-prehensive, project-specific approachdesigned to keep your well flowing atoptimum rates, even after it has beenshut-in for extended periods. Throughour flow-assurance program, we nowprovide a line of high-performance,water-base, insulating packer fluidsand a proprietary computer modelto remove many of the uncertaintiesand problems surrounding convectiveheat loss in the annulus.

Stop production-robbingproblems where they startSAFETHERM insulating packer fluidfrom M-I SWACO helps overcometemperature-related problems thatcan reduce, or even stop production:

• Heat transfer away from pro-duced fluids, resulting in aproduct that becomes incom-patible with the available surfaceprocessing equipment

• Multiple casing strings wherethe transfer of heat into unventedannuli can increase temperature

and pressure in the sealed space,posing a very serious risk of acasing collapse

• Well shut-ins for short-term suspen-sions and intervention operations,causing thermal expansion and con-traction of the tubular goods, induc-ing excessive stress in the metal thatcan disrupt casing/cement bonding

• Wax buildup and salt precipitation,resulting in production blockagesand serious operational risk

• Loosening makeup torque ofthreaded connections, potentiallycompromising elastomer andcement seal, which can impactwell stability

SAFETHERM keeps the heat where it belongsSpecifically engineered for deep-water, permafrost and other cold-temperature environments, SAFETHERM

aqueous-base or water-miscible fluidprovides thermal protection for yourproduced oil:

• Minimizes conduction of heataway from the production string

• Suppresses convective heat lossin the annulus

• Helps control the pressure buildupin sealed annuli

• Maintains flowing surface tem-perature to ensure consistentproduced fluid quality

• Matches a broad spectrum of fluids,elastomers and other componentsin a wide range of wells

• Is benign toward the environmentin case of a spill

• Brings production to the surfacewithin the temperature criteriaof processing equipment

• Includes thermal stabilizers, corrosioninhibitors and oxygen scavengers

• Remains thermally stable andnon-corrosive over a wide rangeof temperatures and pressures forextended periods of time

• Eliminates convection for minimalstress on tubing, casing, seals andcement bonds

• Reduces pressure cycling and thermalexpansion for retention of optimummakeup torque and uncompromisedthreaded connections

• Removes the need for mechanicalinsulation of tubing couplings whenused with vacuum-insulated tubing

Components specially engineeredto protect your production• Resistant to thermal conduction

and free of suspended solids

• Can be formulated for densitiesranging from 8.33 to 12.5 lb/gal(1 to 1.5 kg/L)

• pH-buffered and inhibited tominimize corrosion

• Hydraulically optimized to yieldlow plastic viscosity with elevatedlow-shear-rate viscosities andyield stress

• Flat rheological profile over awide temperature range

• Thermally stable over extendedtime periods

• Can be mixed and pumped on the rig

• Can be pumped at high rates throughsmall tubing and orifice valves, withminimal frictional pressure loss

The proprietary ThermalConductivity and Heat CapacityTest Device measures both thermalconductivity and heat capacity asmaterial properties. The design is opti-mized for low-thermal-conductivity(0.16 to 0.07 BTU/hr/ft/°F), highly

SAFETHERM creates an insulating barrier that eliminates temperature loss in the production fluids duringshut-in or steady-state production.

Convection is the internal movement of currentswithin fluids. It can be described as the density-and heat-driven cycling, transfer or circulationof energy through which material initially warmsup and becomes relatively less dense, rising, thencooling and becoming relatively more dense, andfinally sinking.

Conduction is the transmission of heat acrossmatter and is always directed from a higher to alower temperature. Thermal conductivity is definedas the heat transferred through a medium as a resultof temperature difference.

Traditional packer fluid

SAFETHERMinsulating packer fluid

Productionzone

Productionzone

Traditional packer fluid

SAFETHERMinsulating packer fluid

ConvectiveConvective

ConductiveConductive

Productionzone

Productionzone

viscous, Herschel-Bulkley fluids.Depending on the thermal conduc-tivity of the fluid, arresting convec-tion keeps heat loss to a minimum.When convection begins, total heatloss can suddenly increase by afactor of 30 or more.

The Thermal Conductivity Testerconsists of a small power supply, adata processing unit, and a probe/test-cell assembly. The device hasa small footprint and uses a stan-dard PC for data collection. Obtaineddatasets of temperature, current,voltage, and time are convertedinto thermal conductivity and heatcapacity values using the appropriatemathematical formulas.

SAFETHERM convective heat-transfer coefficient — 25 times lower than water The system yielded superior per-formance in all nine criteria in anindustry survey conducted by a majoroperator at an independent lab. Thefluid possessed a convective heat-transfer coefficient 25 times lowerthan that of water. Five insulatingpacker fluids from separate serviceproviders were tested for:

• Temperature effects on viscosity

• Low-shear rate rheological properties

• Static aging at 200° F (93° C)(one-, 14-, and 28-day tests)

• Static aging at 250° and 270° F (121°and 132° C) (one- and 14-day tests)

• Cycling (24-day, 40° to 200° F [4° to93° C], 40° to 300° F [4° to 149° C] tests)

• Fann 70 — Rheological propertiesunder temperature and pressure

• Thermal conductivity

• Convective heat-transfer coefficient

• pH reduction (reduction to 7.0, staticage 72 hr at 200° F [93° C])SAFETHERM fluid had the most con-

sistent rheological properties (yieldpoints and progressive gel strengths),the most uniform performance sta-bility over a 28-day period, and thehighest thermal stability (approach-ing 270° F [132° C]). Specifications forthe third-party tests were long-termand pH stability at 200° F (93° C),9.0 lb/gal, and 0.20 BTU/hr/ft/°F.

SAFETHERM makes environmental sense, too The components of SAFETHERM

were specially selected to have mini-mal environmental impact, therebymitigating the effects of spills orother unforeseen events. In theNorth Sea, the packer fluid hasearned the system a Class E desig-nation. For Gulf of Mexico operations,SAFETHERM contains no free oil andproduces no sheen.

To find out more about howSAFETHERM fluid can protectyour investment in cold envi-ronments, contact your localM-I SWACO representative.

The TPRO ST computer model provides added assurance

M-I SWACO has developed laboratory

testing equipment and computer models

to accurately test and predict the per-

formance of a SAFETHERM fluid in any

wellbore environment. The models

are unique in the industry in that

they address specific rheological prop-

erties of fluids and, most importantly,

their capability to resist the onset of

convective heat loss.

Complementing SAFETHERM and our

in-house thermal-conductivity-testing

apparatus is a unique

computer model capable

of simulating Newtonian

and non-Newtonian

fluid behavior in an

annulus to calculate tem-

perature regression dur-

ing production and

shut-in. The proprietary

TPRO ST computer model,

which includes algo-

rithms for rheologically

engineered fluids, con-

siders production tem-

perature and rate,

thermal properties of the

production and casing

string(s), the external

environment, and the insulating packer

fluid itself. This sophisticated software

calculates the temperature profile

throughout the wellbore during start-up,

steady-state production and during the

duration of a shut-in.

With the TPRO ST model, we can deter-

mine with a high degree of certainty

just how long you can keep your well

off-line before it must be returned to

production or before other remedial

action must be initiated.

The thermal conductivity test device is used to evaluate formulations.

©2003 M-I L.L.C. All rights reserved. *Mark of M-I L.L.C.

CBR.1953.0704.R1 (E) 2.5M Litho in U.S.A.

P.O. Box 42842Houston, Texas 77242-2842

Tel: 281·561·1300Fax: 281·561·1441

www.miswaco.comE-mail: questions@miswaco.com

Technology Centers:

HOUSTON, TEXASTel: 281·561·1300 · Fax: 281·561·1441

ABERDEEN, SCOTLANDTel: 44·1224·334634 · Fax: 44·1224·334650

STAVANGER, NORWAYTel: 47·51·577300 · Fax: 47·51·570605

This information is supplied solely for informational purposes and M-I SWACO makes noguarantees or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the accuracy and useof this data. All product warranties and guarantees shall be governed by the Standard Termsof Sale. Nothing in this document is legal advice or is a substitute for competent legal advice.