Weatherford Wins Four-year Deal with Petrobras

The Optimax Ultra Deep-Set Safety Valve shuts in a well in the event of uncontrolled flow. (Image: Weatherford)
The Optimax Ultra Deep-Set Safety Valve shuts in a well in the event of uncontrolled flow. (Image: Weatherford)

Oilfield services company Weatherford International announced it has secured a contract with Brazilian-based multinational corporation Petróleo Brasileiro S.A., more commonly known as Petrobras, to deliver 24 Optimax deep-set safety valves in the next four years.

The deal is Weatherford's largest-ever contract for deep-set safety valves, the company said.

The Optimax deep-set safety valve protects against catastrophic loss of well control by providing fail-safe closures at pressure up to 10,000 psi and are rated for setting depths as deep as 3,658 meters, Weatherford said. The valves are monogrammed to API-14A's highest validation grade of V1.

"The Weatherford Optimax deep-set safety valve is a victory in innovative thinking," said Mark Hopmann, President of Completions for Weatherford. Hopmann added, "Conventional deep-set valves typically require nitrogen-charged chambers to compensate for the high hydrostatic pressure of the control line. The Optimax deep-set safety valve overcomes this challenge with a design that utilizes highly reliable, field-proven technology."

An integral part of the completion string, the Optimax deep-set safety valve is controlled by a primary hydraulic control line. Application of control-line pressure keeps the valve in the open position. When pressure is bled off, the valve closes to protect property, personnel, and the environment. A secondary upward-facing piston, plus heavy-duty power springs, enable fail-safe closure while keeping the hold-open pressure to a minimum.

Current News

Eco Wave Power Gets Permit for Its First US Wave Energy Project

Eco Wave Power Gets Permit for

DNV, Seatrium Team for Innovation in Marine and Offshore

DNV, Seatrium Team for Innovat

Mammoet to Marshal XL Monopile Foundations for RWE’s Offshore Wind Farms

Mammoet to Marshal XL Monopile

Hybrid-Ready CTV for the Polish Offshore Wind Sector

Hybrid-Ready CTV for the Polis

Subscribe for OE Digital E‑News

Offshore Engineer Magazine