Solid Expandable Tubulars Research Articles

Investigation of the post-expansion collapse strength of solid expandable tubulars made of different steels

At present, there are different ideas about on the main factor influencing post-expansion collapse strength of solid expandable tubulars (SETs). In this study, three SETs with the same dimensions, which were made of 20 (Chinese grade), a twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) and a transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steels, were expanded so the inner diameter increase by about 14%. The test results showed that the SETs made from high-strength steels (a TWIP and a TRIP) had poor resistance to collapsing after expansion. Through a combination of finite element method (FEM) simulations and experimental tests, the post-expansion collapse strength of three SETs were comparatively analyzed to find out the main influencing factor. After isolating the influences of geometric factors on the collapse strength, the influences of the Bauschinger effect and the residual stress on the collapse strength were studied. There was no correlation between the obvious degree of the Bauschinger effect of the three steels and the post-expansion collapse strength of the three SETs, which suggested that the Bauschinger effect was not the main factor influencing the post-expansion collapse strength. This is obviously different from the conclusion for SETs made from only one steel. The post-expansion collapse strength calculated by FEM simulations differed greatly from that of the actual measurement if the residual stress after expansion was ignored, though both were very close when the residual stress after expansion was considered. This clearly indicates that the residual stress after expansion has a significant effect on the post-expansion collapse strength and it is the main factor influencing the post-expansion collapse strength.

Application of Solid Expandable Tubulars in the Petroleum Industry

The development of solid expandable tubular (SET) technology and products (open hole liner, open hole clad, cased hole liner, liner hanger, internal casing patch, etc.) has enabled operators to plan well design in a new way and solve various problems that arise during drilling and exploitation on land and offshore. By including an expandable open hole liner, monobore open hole liner or monobore openhole clad in well design, it is possible to achieve a slim hole design and/or resolve unwanted situations that occur during the drilling of problem zones with minimal hole size reduction and reach hydrocarbon reserves which cannot be achieved economically by conventional technology. By installing an expandable cased hole liner or internal casing patch in production wells to cover the intervals of a corroded casing or to close old perforations, it is possible to extend the life cycle of a production well and increase the final hydrocarbon recovery and speed up the return on investment. The aim of this paper is to systematically review the relevant literature and give an overview of solid expandable tubular technology and its applications in the petroleum industry, as well as the cementing technology of open hole expandable liners. The available data for 21 case studies of SET application in onshore and offshore wells were analyzed in detail. Based on an extensive review of the literature and analyzed data, it can be concluded that SET technology is being successfully applied worldwide and that expandable liners with a diameter of 114.3 mm to 339.72 mm are being run in wells to ever greater depths (up to 5166 m) and in ever more extreme downhole conditions.

Experimental and numerical simulation investigation on tubular expansion process

Solid expansion technology has brought a revolution for oil and gas drilling and production. The performance of the expandable tubular is determined by the strength of material and the dimensional accuracy of the tube. In this study, the expansion pressures of two expandable tubulars at an expansion ratio of 15.0% were measured by full-scale tests. A 3D finite-element-method model was developed using Abaqus to dynamically simulate the expansion process of solid expandable tubulars. The simulated expansion pressures are in good agreement with experimental results, which proves the validity of the model. Based on the FEM model, the relationship between wall thickness uniformity after expansion and the strain hardening exponent of tubular material was investigated. The results show that the expandable tubular with a high strain hardening exponent can obtain more uniform wall thickness after expansion. The FEM model may be applied for design of expansion process and development of expandable tubulars in the future.

Transient liquid phase bonding of carbon steel components using Ni-based foils – A comprehensive joint characterization

The transient liquid phase bonding (TLPB) process is one of the selected joining technologies to replace threaded connections in solid expandable tubulars. In particular, for expandable hot-rolled seamless carbon steel tubular products using Ni-based amorphous metallic foils as filler material.In this work, a comprehensive mechanical properties and microstructural characterization was carried out in TLP-bonded bars for this base metal/filler material combination. Both the joint and the heat affected zone exhibited a strength which compares well with the base metal, and a ductility in accordance with that which is typically specified for steel arc-welded joints. A coalesced lath-like bainitic microstructure was found at the joint. In addition, and by means of orientation imaging, a parent austenite grain - which is shared by the joint and an adjacent ferrite grain from the base metal - was found, which demonstrates the epitaxial nature of the TLPB solidification process.Also, a cell-block-like structure at ferrite grains next to the joint was detected, due to the plastic deformation developed in tensile-tested samples at room temperature.

Study of the effect of the expansion cone on the expansion process in solid expandable tubulars with thread joints

As the core technology of petroleum extraction engineering in the 21st century, Solid Expandable Tubular (SET) technology is applied to drilling, well completion, and cementing. However, the expansion process for tubulars in site operation may well lead to stress concentration, leakage, or even fracture failure in thread joints of the tubular assembly due to the irregular deformation of thread teeth. With the aim of studying the issue with regard to the thread joint of J55 steel expandable tubulars, this study extended a series of finite element models using the commercial software ABAQUS to investigate the structural response of tubulars during the expansion process. The simulation results include the stress evolution, deformation of the thread joint of the tubular assembly, and the effect of expansion cone geometry on the expansion consequences. A laboratory experiment was performed to validate the validity of the simulated solution. It was found from results that both the axial and hoop compressive stress concentrations were generated in the thread teeth edges near the contact surfaces of threads during the expansion process due to the mutual squeezing of box and pin thread teeth. An increase of the tubular diameter led to a reduction of wall thickness and axial length due to the law of volume-constancy. The expansion process resulted in a deterioration of the contact condition between the thread teeth. A cone angle of 9° and sizing section length of 65–75 mm were the optimal choice of the geometric size of the expansion cone according to their superior analytical results.

An Experimental and Numerical Approach to the Prediction of Expandability and Collapse Resistance for Solid Expandable Tubulars

An Experimental and Numerical Approach to the Prediction of Expandability and Collapse Resistance for Solid Expandable Tubulars

Technology Focus: Wellbore Tubulars (June 2011)

Technology Focus Many believe that inventions arise from the need to solve a specific problem or need. Examine the need to be first in space or the race to build the first atomic bomb. Other inventions grow unintentionally; some would argue that most do. While an inventor may intend one purpose for the technology, it will take a culture or a society to exploit the technology fully, or find use for it. Thomas Edison’s phonograph is an example. He invented the phonograph in 1877 with the purpose of recording and playing back words. His idea was noble. He envisioned recording books so that the blind could read (the first “books on tape”), to preserve speeches, and to have words live beyond human life. He tried to market his phonograph as an office dictating machine, but nobody bought it. In fact, he believed that there was no real commercial value in the phonograph. It was not until others saw the technology and adopted it to record and play music, that his phonograph become popular. 20 years after the invention, he conceded that the main use of his phonograph was to record and play music. Sometimes it takes society years to develop a new, commercial, use for technologies that were intended and heavily marketed for different purposes. None of the papers reviewed this year offer an “ah-hah” industry-changing technology; instead, they present technology seeking commercial acceptance. The 34 papers I reviewed this year have similar trends. Topics range from casing connections, corrosion control, and expandable casings to wired drillpipe. Each topic explores a commercial use of the technology. Some abstracts explain a technology to help exploit commercial viability, and some actually introduce a new material or method. Many times, we feel the need to use new technology and materials to combat problems in well design. Often, the solution is just the proper use of conventional technologies, but many times the solution lies in applying existing materials and technology in an innovative way. We often forget the importance of good technique and procedure in applying connection technology. Torque-position is not a new technology, but it is a reminder of the importance of gas-tight strings for critical well applications. Tubular corrosion in the wellbore and corrosion of tools used in wellbore construction are problems that cost the industry billions of dollars. Several of the papers reviewed offered corrosion-control solutions. Expandable-casing technology is in its commercial infancy in the industry. When we understand the stresses applied to expandable casing when it is plastically deformed, we likely will broaden its commercial application. Wellbore Tubulars additional reading available at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org SPE 132989 • “Wired-Drillpipe Telemetry Enables Real-Time Evaluation of Kick During Managed-Pressure Drilling” by J.E. Gravdal, SPE, International Research Institute of Stavanger, et al. SPE 131614 • “Enabling Materials and Corrosion Technologies for Gas Developments” by Eric J. Wright, ExxonMobil. SPE 135389 • “Kinematic Hardening Characterization: Applications to Solid-Expandable Tubulars” by J. Durivault, Vallourec and Mannesmann Oil and Gas, et al.

Expandable Tubulars Facilitate Improved Well Stimulation and Production

This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 121147, ’Expandable Tubulars Facilitate Improved Well Stimulation and Well Production,’ by Doug G. Durst, SPE, and Neven Ruzic, SPE, Enventure Global Technology, originally prepared for the 2009 SPE Western Regional Meeting, San Jose, California, 24-26 March. Expandable technology applied as a completion/production string facilitates increased fracturing rates, resulting in improved conductivity and enhanced hydrocarbon production. Expandable tubulars can be used in re-entry wells to isolate old perforations, allowing new zones or new sections within zones to be perforated and stimulated. Either a combination tubular-cladding system or a solid expandable system can provide an integral component in new wells or re-entry wells where low-permeability reservoirs, such as those characteristic of unconventional gas formations, require isolation and separation for selective or pinpoint hydraulic fracturing or refracturing. Introduction One of the more notable technologies, solid expandable tubulars, has evolved to include systems that can be used in the following capacity: In conventional applications for remediation, rejuvenation, and refurbishment of mature-field assets. In unconventional gas completions in combination with hydra-jet (abrasive jetting) perforating and fracturing techniques. As a large production conduit for deep and ultradeep wells in conventional wellbore-casing programs. As a large production conduit to slim the wellbore and still attain adequate hole size at total depth. Solid-expandable technology in production applications has been used extensively to address isolation challenges in cased-hole and openhole scenarios. Generally, an elastomeric compound is bonded to the outside diameter (OD) of the pipe to provide effective isolation. When the pipe is expanded to contact the wellbore inside diameter (ID), the elastomer is compressed between the formation and/or base casing and the expandable pipe, providing a hydraulic seal. Solid-expandable systems in production applications typically repair or reinforce existing casing and isolate sections such as perforated intervals and/or leaking connections. Anchor hangers (pup joints of expandable casing bonded with elastomers) are placed at the top and the bottom of the liner to isolate these intervals. Additional anchor hangers can be placed anywhere along the liner to address other requirements. By incorporating multiple anchor hangers, several zones can be isolated with one liner. The compound used for the elastomer bands on the anchor-hanger joints depends on downhole temperature and fluid compatibility. Elastomer bands of different thicknesses can be used on the same liner to seal in a variety of IDs or range of casing weights. Solid-expandable technology plays a significant role in providing solutions in all types of production and completion applications. The general evolution of completion techniques has provided the means to carry out discrete multistage fracturing programs over long horizontal wellbores to create more connectivity. The newer solutions now provide better project economics by separating the drilling, casing, and completion aspects of the project from the fracturing operations, thereby gaining project efficiencies by not tying up the rig for all operations.

Taming Complexities of Coupled Geomechanics in Rock Testing: From Assessing Reservoir Compaction to Analyzing Stability of Expandable Sand Screens and Solid Tubulars

Summary Well geomechanics and "smart" completion designs in many of Saudi Aramco's fields are essential in supporting the company's efforts to apply the extended-reach and MRC well technologies. MRC wells are being aggressively targeted to optimize development economics, enhance recovery, maximize production, minimize differential drawdown across the sand face, reduce sanding potential, and defer water coning. In addition, many unconsolidated sandstone reservoirs require positive sand-control measures. As such, Expandable Sand Screen (ESS) tubulars have seen a recent surge in applicability for completing conventional and MRC wells in sand-prone, troublesome formations. Today, solid expandable tubulars are being tested on a number of wells in a pseudomonodiameter structure. Though attractive, the long-term performance of these tools in the Arabian Reservoir environments is yet to be explored. This paper simulates the impact of reservoir production and depletion on expandable tubulars and sand-screen completions when the compacting reservoir behaves as a permeable poroelastic medium. A general poroelastic solution model encompassing a multitude of boundary and initial conditions is discussed in this paper. The model simulates the uniaxial (Ko) testing of solid and hollow geomaterial cylinders (Geertsma 2005). Thus, it helps infer about potential problems that might influence the survivability of "expandables" and disrupt the outflow from the well. The proof cases on reservoir and caprocks presented herein are supported with numerical application, experimental validation, and physical interpretation of the coupled poromechanical processes that are reflected in the anisotropic, time-dependent rock responses during testing. The manuscript also demonstrates that this enhanced approach to modeling visualization will ultimately ease the tractability of the pertinent physical phenomena as well as support the model's computational credibility to engineers and experimentalists in the oil and gas industry.

Overview: Wellbore Tubulars (May 2007)

In this corner last year, we explored our continually evolving understanding of tubular performance. At the 2006 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition and the 2007 SPE/IADC Drilling Conference, we again were presented with outstanding investigations on several fundamental issues such as buckling and fatigue. However, as you well know, we cannot just stop here. Fundamentals must evolve into technology and then be extrapolated to design, application, and eventually implementation in the field. This implementation must bring business value through additional access to resources, savings in time, or savings in money. Applications of technology also can evolve. For example, vacuum-insulated tubing initially was used for steam injection, and now also is used to manage hydrate formation and annular fluid expansion. Such evolution also is visible with solid expandable tubulars. This technology has been highlighted in this feature since 2000 with applications focusing on remediation (e.g., sealing off problem zones or repairing corroded intervals). However, increasingly during the past few years, solid-expandables technology has been integrated into the design process to eliminate casing strings and provide a larger wellbore cross-section for subsequent drilling and production. Connection technology continues to evolve and meet the increasing demands placed upon tubulars. Long, extended-reach wells pose numerous drilling challenges. To reach desired targets, drillpipe stability, torsional strength, and hydraulic performance are required. Implementation of appropriate connection designs can allow for larger, more-rigid drillpipe, alleviating additional hydraulic and downhole torque concerns. In an effort to reduce the environmental effect of thread compounds, connection manufacturers are working to meet regulatory requirements to reduce, and even eliminate, pipe-dope discharge. Through a fundamental understanding of thread-compound benefits (e.g., ease of makeup, galling avoidance), multiple technologies have been developed. In conjunction with achieving "zero discharge," these technologies can improve rig handling and running speeds by eliminating thread-compound application. Field deployment of technology is not limited to product installation, but includes implementation of design concepts and tools. With a thorough understanding of the risks, reliability-based design methodologies, or other design tools coupled with appropriate material selection and equipment, can reduce overall development costs by identifying alternatives to standard approaches. Wellbore Tubulars additional reading available at the SPE eLibrary: www.spe.org SPE 100628 "Improving Drilling Performance Using Advanced Drillpipe With Streamline Connections" by M.J. Jellison, SPE, Grant Prideco, et al. SPE 105855 "First Gas Field Developed Using Exclusively Dope-Free Casing and Tubing Connections—Statoil Snøhvit" by Gabriel Carcagno, SPE, Tenaris, et al. SPE 100386 "Failure Analysis of String Corrosion and Its Protection During Constructing and Operating Gas Storage Facility in Bedded Salt Deposit" by Yuan Guangjie, PetroChina, et al. SPE 104055 "Rigless Tubing Repair Using Permanent and Retrievable Patches at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska" by J.Y. Julian, SPE, BP plc, et al. SPE 102150 "Development and Commercial Deployment of an Expandable Monobore Liner Extension" by C.F. Stockmeyer, SPE, Baker Oil Tools, et al.

Solid Expandable Tubular Technology: The Value of Planned Installation vs. Contingency

Summary Narrow pore-pressure/fracture gradient windows often necessitate additional casing strings to maintain wellbore stability and reach deeper objective depths. Operators are constrained by the number of strings of conventional casing that can run through subsea or surface wellhead equipment. Planning solid expandable tubulars into the well design allows the operator to run additional casing strings to reach deeper objectives. Traditionally, there are two approaches used in selecting expandable tubular technology: one selects a solid expandable tubular for use as a contingency and installs it after encountering problems, often deep in a distressed well; and the other installs a large-bore expandable in the upper section of the well as part of the base well design. Using a solid expandable tubular system in the upper sections of the well design preserves hole size from the onset and allows more casing strings to be run without pushing casing points to the fracture-gradient limit. Preserving hole size contributes to drilling efficiency, reduces equivalent circulation density (ECD), and minimizes risk associated with small-hole size in deeper sections of the wellbore. Another application for solid expandable tubulars is in conjunction with surface blowout preventer (BOP) stack technology. Typical surface stack systems are drilled using a subsea stack BOP system coupled to a 13⅜-in. or 16-in. high-pressure drilling riser. After setting the riser, only one or two conventional casing strings can be run through the riser, which limits chances of drilling to deeper geologic objectives. This paper looks at two case histories. The first case history compares two deepwater offset wells in the Mississippi Canyon area of the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). One well used expandable casing as a contingency late in the well execution phase, and the other well incorporated the expandable casing as part of the base design in an upper-hole section. The second case history evaluates a well in which solid expandable tubular technology allows up to three additional casing strings to be run in a surface-stack application. This paper discusses how combining solid expandable tubular technology with surface-stack technology pushes the technical limits of surface-stack drilling into deeper water and deeper formations.

Q&A with Rick Fontova, Senior Vice President, Enventure Global Technology

When was solid-expandable-tubular technology commercialized? In what regions has it had the most acceptance? Enventure itself was commissioned in November 1998 as a joint venture (JV) between Halliburton and Shell, so that was the genesis of the commercialization. The technology itself has evolved over time, but solid expandable technology came through Shell's R&D efforts in their laboratory. Then Shell approached Halliburton to help commercialize it. Enventure originally was commissioned to work in the western hemisphere, so it was several years before we were licensed to work internationally. The western hemisphere, primarily North America, is the place where we have performed the most installations, but we are growing very rapidly. The biggest growth region outside the U.S. has been the Middle East, both in terms of installation and revenue. We also have a major project in China, which is based on a smaller-cased hole, where we are doing approximately 8 to 10 installations a month. So if that continues, that will become one of our most active areas. New technologies sometimes face hurdles in winning acceptance and widespread application. What is the story of expandable's growth and success, and are there any lessons for the industry in this? We have engaged other companies to try to help us understand what the barriers are to introducing technology and how you expedite the acceptance of technology in the oil and gas industry. This industry is really slow in introducing technology compared to industries such as telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, or even manufacturing. Those industries can develop, introduce, commercialize, and then penetrate the market much faster than the oil and gas industry. But in our industry, solid expandable tubulars has been one of the most quickly accepted technologies of the past 15 to 20 years. What is the reason for that? We latched on to the early adopters. Shell, being one of our shareholders, was an early adopter, and Saudi Aramco was as well. Both of them used the technology from a strategic standpoint, and, of course, both of those are highly credible companies. So we were able to use the example with those two companies to continue to gain acceptance. Today our major customers are Aramco and some of the smaller independents, which are quicker in making decisions about using new technology. Majors continue to use us, but they are not as quick to find the applications, see the value proposition, and then implement the technology. Expandables seem to have started as a technology for last-minute contingencies but since have grown to broader applications. How did this evolve? What happened was if an operator had gotten in a bind and had run out of alternatives to fix his well, then it said, "Why not? We are already at the end of our rope." By being able to come in on those last-minute, very challenging situations and perform, we were able to get a good foothold in the industry as a salvager of wells. Then engineers, as they typically do, started thinking about the technology's application in a broader sense, and the technology increasingly became more integral in the design of the well.

The Development and Applications of Solid Expandable Tubular Technology

Abstract Operators face significant loss of inside diameter (ID) in the course of the normal drilling process, during re-entry and deepening of existing wells, or when installing additional casing strings to remediate well problems. The industry has confronted this dilemma with innovative problem solving that stretches the boundaries of physics in the guise of solid expandable tubular technology. Successful applications have proven the technology's reliability in a variety of conditions and environments. Solid expandable tubulars continue to build a legacy as a solution to problems involving gas shut-off, subsidence repair, water shut-off, lost circulation, and remediation of wells slated for abandonment. The technology continues to evolve, leading to the single-diameter wellbore where casing diameter remains constant for the entire length of the well. Introduction hard and fast rule of casing design-that being each string of pipe must be able to pass through the previous string?has caused problems ranging from a simple inconvenience to premature abandonment and loss of reserves, or to the inability to complete an exploratory well. Developers learned to reliably and repeatedly pass smaller diameter API standard size and grade pipe, and expand it such that its outside diameter (OD) is nearly equal to the ID of the previous casing string. This development was the impetus for solutions to many of the previously mentioned problems. Solid expandable tubular technology provides feasible options for drilling, completion, and workover operations allowing operatorsto reach previously unattainable target zones. Solid expandable tubular installations have increased production, extended production life through remediation of existing pay zones, and provided the ability to reach target depths. In a drilling application, solid expandable tubular technology reduces the telescopic effect created by using multiple casing strings in deepwater or extended reach wells, thereby preserving valuable hole size. Since its development, the technology has rapidly moved from deepwater to a technology that has been embraced by operators in many basins(1). The Expansion Process A launcher at the bottom of the solid expandable tubular system houses an expansion cone and a float shoe. The launcher is constructed of high-strength steel that consists of a thinner wall thickness than the expandable casing. The OD of the launcher can be up to the drift diameter of the previous casing or liner so it can still be tripped through the base casing. The thinner wall allows for the cone OD to be maximized. The expandable system uses an elastomer joint to both seal and anchor the system. The elastomer joint incorporates multiple elastomer sections that are bonded to the pipe using a compression molding process. The rubberized elastomer materials are selected to meet the temperature requirements of the given installation. As the elastomer joint is expanded, the elastomer sections are energized and clad into the base casing. A designed compression ratio of the elastomer sections between the expanded pipe and the base casing gives the elastomer joints their sealing and loadbearing capabilities.

An Improved Cementing Method for Solid Expandable Tubulars

This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 90923, "Improved Method of Cementing Solid Expandable Tubulars," by Charles Fanguy, SPE, Dan T. Mueller, and Dale R. Doherty, SPE, BJ Services Co., prepared for the 2004 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Houston, 26-29 September. Failure of cement slurry to remain fluid and stable after placement can prevent successful expansion of solid expandable tubulars (SETs). The property of being both stable and fluid is difficult to achieve with conventional cement technology because conventional slurries tend to settle under downhole conditions after an extended period. The full-length paper describes the premixed-slurry properties and quality-assurance/quality-control (QA/QC) procedures that are required for successful expansion of SETs. The paper also provides test methods and procedures used for fluidity-time testing as well as case histories of successful SET cementation. Introduction There are several challenges when cementing SETs. The primary challenge is to obtain “fluidity” time at static wellbore conditions. Fluidity time is defined as the time the cement slurry exhibits a static gel strength of less than 100 lbf per 100 ft2. True fluidity time is required to ensure that gellation does not occur during the expansion phase that follows cement-slurry placement in the annulus. Gelation can result in “voids” or bypassed mud above the pre-expansion top of cement. Severe gelation also can cause formation breakdown and lack of zonal isolation. In addition to gelation, density segregation and settling can occur during extended static periods at bottomhole conditions. This also can lead to bypassed drilling fluids and potential formation breakdown. These challenges, along with low displacement rates and lack of available centralization, complicate the primary cementing process. Because of these challenges, many expandable liners have been squeezed after expansion as opposed to being cemented before expansion. The technologies and methods described in the full-length paper have led to an increase in the success rate associated with cementing SETs. As this technology becomes more accepted and mainstream, increased focus will be placed on cementing techniques and technologies that can enable complete zonal isolation in the entire annulus. Premixed Cement System A storable, premixed cement system is used for cementing expandable liners. These pre-mixed slurries are blended at a bulk plant before arrival at the wellsite. After the slurry is mixed, liquid samples of slurry are sent to a laboratory so that physical properties can be verified. Properties that are tested include free fluid, fluid-loss control, thickening time, fluidity time, gel-strength development, and compressive-strength development. These properties can be modified with liquid additives if necessary. Premixed slurries also exhibit several characteristics that are beneficial for use with expandable liners. These slurries contain specialized additives that ensure slurry stability under extended storage conditions, so fluidity time at wellbore conditions is easily achieved. These slurries also have improved rheological properties and improved tolerance to mud contamination, as exhibited by contamination tests conducted with both destructive and non-destructive compressive-strength testing. The improved rheologies and resistance to contamination have helped to obtain zonal isolation even with low displacement rates and no centralization.

Solid Expandable Tubulars for Constructing Extended-Reach Wells

This article, written by Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 87209, "Breakthroughs Using Solid Expandable Tubulars to Construct Extended-Reach Wells," by Karl Demong, SPE, Halliburton Energy Services; Mark Rivenbark, SPE, Enventure Global Technology; and David Mason, SPE, Shell Technology Ventures, prepared for the 2004 IADC/SPE Drilling Conference, Dallas, 2-4 March.