Alternate Energy Solutions Conquerers Sealing Challenges with HELICOFLEX®
Customized HELICOFLEX® Provides the Ideal Seal
Alternate Energy Solutions, a division of downhole plug manufacturer Thru-Tubing Systems, required a solution to seal caustic gasses on expired wells for a customer in the South Pacific. The company needed to pass a strict APT-V5 rating test for the American Petroleum Institute (API). This association establishes standards and provides certifications for the oil and gas industry in the United States. After failing the test with two design options, a rubber O-ring and a metal ferrule, a representative from Alternate Energy Solutions reached out to Technetics Group looking for a metal seal solution.
The case required a sealing solution for a downhole well plug with a working temperature of 350 ºF and working pressure up to 10,000 psi. Challenges related to the axial movement and the high-pressure requirement added unique complexities to the application. Additionally, the API test allows the plug to have a 1% pressure drop over fifteen minutes. With a working pressure of up to 10,000 psi, an acceptable pressure drop in this application would be 100 psi for every fifteen-minute interval. Technetics Group’s commitment to relentless testing and precision enabled an optimal solution to meeting the critical conditions of the case to be identified.
Based on these specifications and requirements, the HELICOFLEX® seal was identified as an ideal solution. The design flexibility of the HELICOFLEX® seal allowed Technetics engineers to customize the seal’s characteristics to meet the unique challenges and requirements of this case. Six test seals were ordered to perform three separate in-house tests. An additional 50 seals were ordered for more comprehensive examinations and submission for approval to API. To learn more about the HELICOFLEX® seal, download the HELICOFLEX® seal PDF or contact one of our sealing specialists for a custom-engineered solution for your application.
