Statoil uses flotation of 10 3/4-in. liner to reach beyond 10 km in Gullfaks field

The 4,660-m (15,285 ft) long 10 3⁄4-in. liner was successfully floated to section TD at 7,721 m (25,324 ft) on 9 May 2006. The Gullfaks well A-32 C, named Gulltopp, is the longest well planned from an offshore installation with a planned TD at more than 10 km. The simulation in the planning phase indicated it would be very difficult or impossible to run the 5-km 10 3⁄4-in. liner to TD with conventional methods due to drag and buckling. The flo tation method was selected for the 10 3⁄4-in. liner to overcome drag and buckling problems.