Offshore staff

ABERDEEN, UK -- Caledyne has been granted a European patent for its retrievable metal-to-metal (MTM) downhole seal system.

Developed at the company's base in Aberdeen, Scotland, the MTM downhole seal consists of flexible material contained inside a metal shell. The structure creates a complete metal barrier in the well, and when fully energized, protects it from the harshest downhole conditions, the company says.

The system acts in a similar way to a standard rubber or elastomeric seal, while remaining resistant to high hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations.

Performance-rated to above 10,000 psi at 300° C (572° F), the MTM seal can be installed on permanent and retrievable packers, bridge plugs, hanger packers, sliding sleeves, and subsea sealing applications such as plugs and flange seals, according to the company.

The seal is certified to ISO14310, the international standard for downhole equipment in the oil and gas industry.

12/16/2008