3. Restoring
Force. Restoring Force is the Force exerted
by Bow Spring of a Centralizer against the casing
to keep away from Well bore wall. The test is performed
with the inner pipe and outer pipe within 5 degree
of the horizontal. External force is applied to the
outer pipe, which is transferred to the Centralizer.
Load is then applied and load deflections reading
are recorded for three times. We repeat the process
until each spring and each set of spring has been
tested with load applied directly above them and then
in between two springs. As shown in figure A &
B. When the minimum restoring force has been obtained.
Each spring has been tested and final load deflection
curve is prepared using the arithmetic mean of the
force reading at corresponding deflections. Restoring
Force is determined from this curve at 67% Stand Off
Ratio. Field experience shows that Stand Off values
of 75-90% are adequate even in horizontal wells.
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4. Compression
Test. IN ADDITION TO API, testing SledgeHammer
also performs the Compression test, under this test
we put load on Standard Centralizer until both ends
meet (as shown in Figure). Compression testing of
the Centralizers ensures that the Centralizers can
withstand very high forces when running casing. This
test ensure that damaged Centralizer will still remain
intact under severe conditions and it also ensure
that even badly distorted Centralizer bows will not
fracture and leave metal fragments in the well.
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5.
Load Deflection Curve. A good centralization
consists of low Starting Force, Low Running &
pulling Force. High Restoring Force and high Stand
Off for proper annular clearance and centering. To
maintain the proper balance between these requirements
SledgeHammer manufactures Centralizers Bows in various
sizes and height that exceeds the restoring force
required as those specified in API 10D specifications.
Load deflection curve is prepared to indicate the
operators on the performance of the Centralizer in
a given hole. This further helps the operators to
determine Centralizer spacing required in deviated
wells.