FMC Technologies recently developed a new frac-enhancing system, the Isolation Sleeve.

The sleeve allows stimulation of wells at previously impossible pressure ratings. Wellheads rated to 5,000 psi can now be fractured to 10,000 psi by using this isolation sleeve, allowing you to optimize use of your operation. With designs catering to both conventional wellheads and FMC’s timesaving DTO wellhead, the sleeves are installed prior to the stimulation crews arriving on site. As a result, you save countless hours previously spent waiting on third parties. On rigging up and down Isolation tools.

In addition, the system is fully driftable to all 5-½” and 4-½” casing. Wireline tools can be run through the sleeves, saving time on multi-stage stimulations. Once installed in the tubing head, the sleeve stays in place until you need to run the tubing hanger, and FMC’s team can retrieve the sleeves under pressure.

The isolation sleeve systems were designed to optimize the stimulation phase, which is traditionally the most expensive phase of drilling a well. Formerly, only two choices existed: Purchasing specialized equipment rated to each stimulation pressure, or using an isolation tool. After a collaborative design effort, the sleeves were put through the most stringent testing using the FMC’s flowloop facility in Houston, Texas.

Today, both conventional and DTO isolation sleeves have been run successfully in the Barnett Shale, where stimulation parameters of flowrates and proppants are some of the most critical in the continental U.S.

The isolation system is yet only one part of the stimulation equipment that FMC can provide. Indeed, trying to improve the solutions provided to its customers, FMC also provides frac trees, flowback equipment (flowline and manifolds), and wellheads.

 

DTO Isolation System		Conventional Isolation System