Todd Gooding

Business Development Manager

The Well Commander
Mitigate drilling hazards with the industrys most versatile
drilling valve
A COMPLETE redesign of the ball-activated Centurion
Circulating Valve (CCV): greatly improved reliability and
increased applicability
A drilling specialists ideal tool for mitigating drilling hazards
It is a drilling valve for use in operations that may encounter lost circulation, wellbore
instability or hole-cleaning challenges.
- 5-in., 7-in., 8 -in. and limited 9 -in. OD sizes to cover every hole size
- Short one-piece body with no internal threads (no bucking machine needed)
- Features an oil-filled chamber with a floating piston that isolates the tool-
activation mechanism from drilling fluids and debris
WELL COMMANDER
A drilling valve that is activated via steel ball, offering a
variety of options to the operator:
Reduced pressure drop allows greatly increased pump rates to aid cuttings-beds
removal with higher fluid-flow velocities
Coarse lost-circulation or wellbore-strengthening materials can bypass sensitive
downhole drilling tools and be easily placed in the loss zone
Kill-weight fluid can be pumped in underbalanced or managed-pressure drilling
applications before initiating a trip
Excellent for hole cleaning during underreaming, hole-opening, or coring operations
The tool can condition fluid at high flow rates in any drilling or displacement string
Helps fill or drain the drillstring during trips to control surge and swab pressures and to
enhance tripping operations by minimizing fluid discharge
Often referred to as a Drilling By-Pass Sub Valve or
Circulating Valve
WELL COMMANDER
WELL COMMANDER Primary Applications & Rig Time Savers
Other Applications
Displacements and cleanouts
Conditioning fluids
Specialized coring techniques
Spotting LCM
Eliminate trips for redress or open ended drillpipe
Medium- and coarse-LCM compatible
Boosting Annular Velocity
Cuttings and debris removal for enhanced hole
cleaning, especially in ERD wells
Higher flow rates above BHA restrictions
Underreaming / milling operations
Riser/BOP Washing
Through-bore maintained >
Tandem run options >
Free-point access >
Tripping Dry Pipe
The automatic locking mechanism gives
enhanced options for improved pipe drainage or
filling, especially with small pipe or restrictive
BHAs
WELL COMMANDER - Improved Technical Limits
See animation
WELL COMMANDER - Open and close sequence
Main body
Proprietary
upper ball seat
WELL COMMANDER Utilizing Shut off Ball
Main body
Lower ball seat
Bypass Ball Catcher
All Well Commander balls are collected in the ball catcher
Through-bore maintained
Access below the tool for smaller-ball-activated tools
Option to activate tools independently
Select wireline access below Well Commander
Note: accessibility may depend on wireline tool
dimensions and number of balls in the ball catcher
Ball Catcher Technology
WELL COMMANDER ByPass Ball Catcher
WELL COMMANDER Technical Data
WELL COMMANDER (size in.) 9 8 7 5
Material AISI 4145 AISI 4145 AISI 4145 AISI 4145
OD (in.) 9.50 8.25 7.00 5.00
Min ID Lower ball seat 2,40 2.40 1.985 1.610
Length (ft) 18.2 18.1
13.7
(incl. catcher)
11.8
(incl. catcher)
Number of circulating ports (in. x in.) 5 5 5 (1.35 x 0.65) 5 (1.10 x 0.50)
Total circulating area through ports (TFA) 6.43 sq. in. 6.43 sq. in. 3.93 sq. in 2.48 sq. in.
Max circ rates (closed/open)
1344/1680
gpm
1344/1680
gpm
840/1050
gpm
672/840
gpm
Opening/closing pressure
(Operating and shut-off balls)
1,600psi (+/-20%)
And 800 max
1,600psi
(+/-20%)
And 800 max
2,000psi (+/-20%)
And 650 max
2,000psi
(+/-20%) and
430 max
Cycles (ball capacity of catcher)
7 (14) 7 (14) 7 (14) 7 (14)
O.D. Opening / Closing Ball (in.) 2.500 2.500 2.125 (2 1/8) 1.760
O.D. BHA Shut-off Ball (in.) 2.430 2.430 2.063
1.698 (shot
blasted)
Connection, Up standard tool (in.) 7-5/8 REG Box 6-5/8 REG Box
4 IF Box
(XT57 also)
3 IF Box
(NC38)
Connection, Down (in.) 7-5/8 REG Pin 6-5/8 REG Pin
4 IF Pin
(XT57 also)
3 IF Pin
(NC38)
Well Commander enhancements over other multi-activation
circulating tools and bypass systems
Shorter one-piece body with no internal threads
Activation sleeve housed in protected oil-filled chamber as a barrier against debris in
solids-laden fluids
Floating piston fitted to compensate hydrostatic pressures experienced downhole
Improved exit-port design reduces erosion potential on the main body of the tool
Rotational motion of the activation sleeve reduces friction and allows smoother
operation
Can be fitted with jets to enhance washing
WELL COMMANDER Enhancements
Questions?