National Oilwell Varco has released the new ReAct Clean Out Valve (RCOV). These valves unload mud and clean up the wellbore as an integral part of the completion string.
The RCOV presents large, open flow ports for unloading drilling mud, solids, or lost-circulation material. Following a delay of up to 150 days and once the well flow is clean and stable, a ReAct electronic timer system actuates a mechanism that allows well pressure to flood an atmospheric chamber and provide a large closing force to shut off these flow ports. A chamber containing a tracer fluid is opened and gives a surface indication that the tool has functioned. In so doing, the clean well flow is now directed through the sand screens in the main bore for the remainder of the lifetime of the well.
The device is an integral part of the tubing string and features premium threaded connections. The timer features two electronic units that are independent of each other for full redundancy.
Image credit: National Oilwell Varco