Circulation Sub Maximizes The Efficiency Of Deepwater Operations By Providing Higher Flow Rates, Better Hole Cleaning, And Superior Operational Flexibility

Weatherford announces the release of JetStream® RFID circulation sub

Houston, TX /PRNewswire/ - Weatherford International plc announced today the commercial release of JetStream® Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) circulation sub at the Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition. Poor wellbore integrity can cause events such as stuck pipe, wellbore collapse, sloughing shales and lost circulation, which are major concerns for drillers in deep water. The JetStream RFID circulation sub enables operators to run a series of tools at different positions along the drillstring and remotely actuate the valves an unlimited number of times in a single trip to achieve higher flow rates and cleaner wellbores.

"Weatherford has pioneered the innovative application of RFID technology in the oil and gas industry to drive operations efficiency," said Neil Gordon, Vice President of Intervention Services and Drilling Tools at Weatherford. "As operators deal with more complex wellbores, the ability to drop an RFID tag from the surface and circulate it through the sub enables our clients to open and close downhole tools multiple times, which provides superior operational flexibility and saves days of rig time. In deepwater drilling operations, RFID technology can save the client over $1 million per application by reducing the amount of non-productive time. This is critical in the current economic environment."

Recently an operator drilling in the North Sea deployed the JetStream RFID circulation sub in a 6.5-inch intermediate section that was drilled to total depth of 10,446 feet through a soft, porous limestone formation. The JetStream RFID circulation sub was actuated a total of 16 times to spot 29 lost-circulation material pills, which allowed the operator to maintain loss rates below 20 bbl/hr (3 m3/ hr) and avoid abandoning the well.

For more information on the JetStream RFID circulation sub, visit www.weatherford.com/jetstream.

About Weatherford
Weatherford is one of the largest multinational oilfield service companies providing innovative solutions, technology and services to the oil and gas industry. The Company operates in over 100 countries, has a network of approximately 1,350 locations, including manufacturing, service, research and development, and training facilities, and employs approximately 44,000 people. For more information, visit www.weatherford.com.