TechTAC’s Patented 7 5/8-inch Slimline® Anchor Has an Improved Assembly Process

“We strive to offer the highest levels of customer service by exceeding our customers’ expectations.” That statement is one of TechTAC’s core values. Among other things, it means we aim to provide service companies and operators with the downhole tubing anchor solutions they need, when and where they need them.

To provide that level of service, TechTAC® offers a variety of the most common tubing anchor catcher (TAC) sizes. The largest of these is our 7 5/8-inch (7.625-inch) anchor. That tool is available in both a standard Baker B2-style design, as well as the patented Slimline® design. As with other TechTAC® products, most orders for 7 5/8-inch anchors are either delivered or shipped within 24 hours.

A New Slip Design for the 7 5/8-inch Anchor

Assembling a large piece of downhole equipment like the 7 5/8-inch Slimline® can be challenging. The size of the tool and the relative size of its components can create some tight workspaces. In the past, the height of the 7 5/8-inch Slimline® slips compared to the limited space in the anchor’s housing could slow the assembly process. Only two slips could be inserted initially. The third would have to be connected to its springs from within the housing. Great tool but not the easiest to put together.

To make the assembly of the 7 5/8-inch Slimline® faster, TechTAC® has improved the design of those slips. The new design, similar to the 4.5-inch Slimline®, features a two-piece slip. The bottom section of all three anchor slips can be inserted into the housing, and once they are positioned, the top sections quickly slide into place. The faster assembly process for TechTAC’s largest Slimline® anchor is just another way the company tries to deliver the right anchoring solutions as quickly as possible.

Downhole Tubing Anchor Solutions to Fit Most Wells

Customers looking for other sizes of tubing anchors can choose from TechTAC’s wide variety of conventional and custom products:

Additional tubing anchor sizes are available upon request, including unique or custom-built anchors. For example, TechTAC® has delivered TACs to fit 6- and 6 5/8-inch wells, in addition to oversized tools for 8 5/8- and 9 5/8-inch wells.

More Sizes, More Solutions

Offering its patented Slimline® TAC in a wide variety of common and custom sizes allows operators in all the major plays in North America to take advantage of the product’s unique design and benefits. With a reduced overall diameter compared to a standard B2 TAC, the Slimline® delivers increased flow through the annulus of up to 245%. And the anchor’s tapered design on top and bottom reduces the area for potential debris collection.

This unique design has been shown to:

• Reduce gas locking incidents by directing gas around the anchor
• Limit stuck anchors by preventing the accumulation of sediment
• Dramatically reduce cutover time
• Increase pump performance and longevity
• Minimize scale buildup by reducing turbulent flow

A senior completion foreman with a U.S.-based oil and gas company describes the benefits of the Slimline® TAC in this way: “Scale builds up where there is a major pressure drop. With a standard TAC there’s not sufficient flow-by area around the TAC. You end up with high pressure below the TAC and low pressure above, so the scaling occurs at the TAC. Slimline anchors reduce this issue by significantly reducing the high/low pressure change above and below the TAC.”

Supported by CFD Analysis

As fluid flows around an anchor, issues like pressure drop, turbulence and changes in velocity can create significant problems, especially with a standard B2 TAC. Among other challenges, those factors can cause the formation of scale, paraffin and iron sulfide. However, a recent computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis conducted by Imaginationeering found that the pressure drop around the TechTAC® Slimline® is less than half that of the standard TAC, making it much less susceptible to scaling. Other factors, such as changes in fluid velocity were also less pronounced around the Slimline®.

According to the study: “…the pressure drop along the standard TAC is more than double that drop along the Slimline TAC. This is expected because the annular cavity with the Slimline TAC’s case is wider than that for the standard TAC’s case. Furthermore, the pressure drop change in the Slimline TAC’s case is less abrupt than that in the standard TAC’s case in which a noticeable localized drop prior to the downstream connector is observed.”

To learn more about the TechTAC® Slimline®, available sizes or the simplified assembly procedure for the 7 5/8-inch anchor, contact the TechTAC® team today.