WELL COMMANDER

Mitigate drilling hazards with the industrys most versatile drilling valve
Features

Generous flow-through area via
multiple ports

Ball catcher has up to 18 ball capacity
(9 cycles)

The same-size ball opens and closes
the ports

Available in 5 in., 7 in., 8
1
/4 in. and 9
1
/2 in.
outer diameter for all drillstring
configurations

No internal tool connections

Tool activation mechanism locks into
open or closed position

Tool activation mechanism isolated from
circulating fluids

Ball catcher permits smaller ball and/or
limited wireline access below the
WELL COMMANDER* tool even after it
has been activated

Optional shut-off ball prevents coarse
lost-circulation material (LCM) from
entering sensitive bottomhole assembly
elements such as logging while drilling
(LWD)/measurement while drilling
(MWD)/core barrel, mud motor and more
Benefits

Easy spotting of LCM or
wellbore strengthening material (WSM)
while drilling

Cuttings-beds removal, enhanced hole
cleaning and efficient fluid displacement
by boosting annular velocities in
conjunction with pipe rotation

Will not function prematurely from high
circulation or tripping rates

Saves tripping time; multiple trips
without redressing the tool

Simplifies reverse circulation through
the tool

Boosts annular velocities above an
underreamer for enhanced hole cleaning

Elevates circulation rates with minimal
pressure drop

Functions in water or invert-emulsion
drilling fluids as well as clear brines

Provides jetting functionality in the
blowout preventer (BOP)

Permits running other ball-activated
tools below

Permits limited wireline access for
freepoint indicators or other elements

Promotes filling or draining the
workstring while tripping
APPLICATIONS
Extended-reach drilling, spotting
LCM or kill-weight fluid, underreaming
operations, underbalanced and
managed-pressure drilling, and other
applications for conditioning or
displacing wellbore fluids at high
flow rates.
PROBLEMS
During drilling operations, many hazards
may be encountered that must be
mitigated to permit successful
completion on the interval. For instance,
restrictive bottom hole assemblies
(BHAs) can limit the flow rate and
annular velocity, preventing effective
hole cleaning while drilling or displacing
wellbore fluids. These same BHAs can
also limit the size and concentration of
LCM or WSM that can be placed in
troublesome zones.
SOLUTIONS
The WELL COMMANDER tool lets you
perform the necessary operations by
providing a large flow area bypass on
demand through as many as nine
open-and-close cycles in one trip.
ECONOMICS
The high flow rates achieved through
the tools generous ports save time and
money in spotting effective LCM/WSM
treatments or kill-weight fluids and
reduce circulating time during
displacements. The tool also helps avoid
problems such as cuttings beds and
packoffs in extended-reach wells.
ENVIRONMENTAL
The tool allows even small-diameter
workstrings to drain easily during a trip
by bypassing restrictive BHA equipment,
so a slug can work every time at any
angle, thus avoiding drilling fluid spills
and promoting a safer work environment.
The WELL COMMANDER tool is a
ball-activated drilling valve placed above
sensitive bottomhole assembly equipment
such as MWD and LWD tools, core barrels,
and mud motors. It provides an alternate
circulation path for performing critical
functions including placing LCM or, for
I-BOSS* applications WSM, in troublesome
zones, without having to pass the material
through size- and concentration-limiting
downhole tools.
The WELL COMMANDER tool also boosts
annular velocities during drilling or
completion operations. This is typically
done to prevent or remove cuttings-beds
buildup, enhance fluid displacement or
simplify reverse circulation. Placing the
tool above other ball-drop tools, such
as an underreamer, can also be highly
advantageous.
The tool is also used to help fill or drain the
drillstring during trips to control surge and
swab pressures and to enhance tripping
operations by minimizing fluid discharge.
Spot pills and increase
circulation exactly where you
want, with no impact on the
BHA, logging tools or the bit.
Open circulating ports provide generous flow area The WELL COMMANDER tool uses the same size
operating ball to open and close the ports
WELL COMMANDER tool
1. Ball landing
7. Bypass ball catcher
4. BHA shut off
Drop ball on connection and pump down to tool. Ball lands on seat.
Pressure is applied.
Optional shut-off ball can be landed on lower ball seat to prevent
LCM or WSM from entering the BHA while treating the formation.
Bypass ball catcher captures activation and BHA shut-off balls to
the side permitting high flow rate with minimal pressure loss and
allowing smaller balls to pass through it.
How it works
The WELL COMMANDER tool is run into or pulled out of the hole
with the ports locked open or closed. The ports remain in the
same position until the tool is activated by dropping a ball and
pressuring up to shift the circulating port. The tool uses the
same size operating ball to open and close the ports, with the
capacity of the ball catcher (18 balls/9 cycles) being the only
limit. A smaller BHA shut-off ball can be dropped to prevent
fluid flow or solids deposition at the top of the BHA. This ball is
expelled with the subsequent operating ball.
The operating balls and BHA-shutoff balls are collected in the
ball-catcher assembly below the tool. This bypass ball catcher
captures the balls to one side of the inside diameter to
facilitate positioning other ball-drop tools below it, as smaller
activation balls can pass through the WELL COMMANDER tool
and ball catcher.
Advantages
Unique ball-seat technology allows the same-size ball to open
and close the tool, eliminating the risk of dropping the wrong
size ball. No complicated ball/dart sequence or potentially
problematic pump on/off hydraulic sequencing is required to
open and close the tool. Additionally, high circulation rates
will not cause the tool to function prematurely.
2. Valve activation
5. Valve closing
8. Other activation balls
When pressure exceeds activation pressure, ports open and ball
proceeds to ball catcher below tool.
The BHA shut-off ball is removed when subsequent activation ball
closes the ports.
Other ball activation tools that use smaller diameter balls can be
positioned below the WELL COMMANDER tool as the ball will not
activate it.
3. Open circulation
9. Ball bypassing
6. BHA shut off removal
Majority of flow passes through the ports with lower pressure to
allow increased pump rates, while some flow is maintained
through the bit for lubrication.
After pressuring up on the activation ball, the BHA shut-off and
activation balls move to the ball catcher.
The activation balls for these other tools will pass through the
bypass ball catcher.
Applications
The WELL COMMANDER tool provides an
alternate circulation path for mitigating
drilling hazards, such as preventing
cuttings-beds buildup by boosting
circulating annular velocities during drilling
or completion operations and/or spotting
LCM or WSM (I-BOSS applications) in
troublesome zones without passing the
material through size- and concentration-
limiting downhole tools.
The WELL COMMANDER tool can assist
in removing cuttings beds in high-angle/
horizontal wells and can efficiently
displace fluids by boosting annular
velocities.
This very versatile and reliable tool also
permits easy spotting of LCM during
drilling operations. Other applications
include enhanced hole cleaning during
hole-opening/underreaming operations.
In extended-reach drilling (ERD) or other
drilling applications that encroach on
fracture pressure, the tool can assist in
spotting WSM pills in troublesome zones
without routing the treatments through
the BHA and bit.
In horizontal underbalanced and
managed-pressure drilling (UBD/MPD)
applications, the WELL COMMANDER tool
allows spotting/removing of kill-weight
fluid in the vertical section prior to
commencing the trip/additional drilling.
The tool can be used to good effect for
conditioning wellbore fluids at high flow
rates in any drilling or displacement
string. The ports also promote jetting
BOP cavities at high flow rates,
when properly positioned.
Finally, it can be used as a fill-and-drain
sub in any drilling or displacement string to
avoid swabbing or surging the open hole.
The WELL COMMANDER tool is easily redressed.
A smaller BHA shut-off ball can be used to isolate
flow to the bit during LCM or WSM operations.
The WELL COMMANDER tool is placed above sensitive bottomhole assembly equipment such as
MWD and LWD tools, core barrels, and mud motors.
Operations
The WELL COMMANDER tool is normally
positioned above the BHA, MWD/LWD
tools, motor or small-diameter drillstring.
The valve is run in the hole in the closed
position. The tool remains inactive during
normal drilling operations.
When the need arises to open the
circulating ports, an operating ball
is dropped and pumped down to the
WELL COMMANDER tool. When the
operating ball lands on the seat and
pressure is applied, the tool is primed to
open. Increased pressure drives the ball
through the ball seat and a pressure drop
is observed. The operating ball is expelled
into the ball catcher, and the tool advances
to the locked-open position.
With the circulating ports open, the pump
rate can then be increased to circulate
at higher annular velocities through the
open ports. Note that in this open position,
there is still a small percentage of fluid
circulating around the BHA, keeping
it lubricated. In this position, the tool
can be used to spot LCM or, for I-BOSS
applications, WSM. If these materials have
the potential for damaging any of the BHA
components, flow to the bit can be isolated
by dropping a smaller, differently colored
BHA shut-off ball. This smaller-diameter
shut-off ball can also be used for stopping
flow to the bit.
To close the WELL COMMANDER tool and
restore all the flow through the BHA again,
another operating ball is dropped and
pumped down to the tool ball seat. When
the ball lands on the seat and pressure is
applied, the tool is primed to close via an
indexing system. Increased pressure drives
the ball through the ball seat and a
pressure drop is observed. The operating
ball and the BHA shut-off ball are both
expelled into the ball catcher and the valve
returns to its original, closed position. The
pressure is allowed to bleed off before
continuing operations.
In managed-pressure or underbalanced
drilling operations, the WELL COMMANDER
tool can be opened to displace kill-weight
fluid prior to tripping to simplify the
operation. It can remain open while tripping
out of the hole to avoid swabbing and
permit tripping dry.
It can also remain open while tripping
into the hole to avoid surging and allow
the pipe to readily fill. Once on bottom, an
operating ball can be pumped to close the
WELL COMMANDER valve and commence
operations. The open and close cycling
can be repeated on a single trip until the
maximum capacity of the ball catcher
is reached. The ball catcher can be
emptied at surface during each trip. The
WELL COMMANDER tool can be run on
multiple trips before redress is required.
Get more done on your next
well with the WELL COMMANDER
tool from M-I SWACO
Let one of our representatives introduce
you to all the benefits you can get from
this versatile workhorse of a drilling valve.
Contact M-I SWACO today to hear how the
reliable WELL COMMANDER tool is saving
time and money on drilling projects around
the world.
This information is supplied solely for informational purposes and M-I SWACO makes no guarantees or
warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the accuracy and use of this data. All product
warranties and guarantees shall be governed by the Standard Terms of Sale. Nothing in this document
is legal advice or is a substitute for competent legal advice.
Specialized Tools Locations
M-I SWACO (Headquarters)
5950 North Course Drive
Houston, Texas 77072
Tel: +1 713 739 0222
M-I SWACO
305 Ida Road
Broussard, Louisiana 70518
Tel: +1 337 837 8655
M-I SWACO
Endeavour Drive
Arnhall Business Park
Westhill, Aberdeenshire,
AB32 6UF
Tel: +44 (0)1224 742 200
P.O. Box 42842
Houston, Texas 77242-2842
www.miswaco.slb.com
Email: questions@miswaco.slb.com
2012 M-I L.L.C. All rights reserved. *Mark of M-I L.L.C.
SBR.1961.1201.R2 (E)