Filtrex

TAQA’s Filtrex conformable, remedial sand control system is designed to address the issue of sand failure in existing wells.

Filtrex Gen¹ is a remedial sand-control system designed for wells where the original screen or liner has failed, or where new sand production is reducing performance. It is deployed through existing tubing, removing the need for full rig mobilisation. At its core is a multi-layer open-cell matrix polymer (OCMP) filter medium that is run in a compressed state inside a running tool. Once at depth, the medium is released, expands to match the internal diameter of the wellbore or failed screen, and seals the annular gap to restore sand control while still allowing reservoir fluids to flow. Filtrex uses a compressible expandable filter installed on perforated tubing and anchored with a packer to ensure full expansion and coverage of the damaged interval. It can be customised with different filter media to meet sand-retention requirements in reservoirs up to 95 °C.

Unlike the original Filtrex Gen¹ design, which was limited to a 5-meter deployment per run, Filtrex Gen² supports multiple screen joints in a single trip, greatly increasing reach, efficiency, and applicability across a wide range of well conditions.

Problem Addressed & Benefits

As fields age, sand control failures increase, shut-in losses grow, and full workovers become financially unattractive. Filtrex addresses this by offering:

• A one-trip remedial installation via tubing or slickline, saving rig time and cost.
• Restoration of sand control integrity without re-drilling or full completion replacement.
• Reduced CO₂ emissions via minimized intervention footprint.
• Flexibility of deployment in restricted holes, through tubing, and optional retrieval. In addition, its high permeability of 43D and porosity ~77-85 % allows reservoir production rates to continue post-installation.

Innovation & Game-Changing Aspects

Traditional remedial sand control options for failed completions are either expensive (rig workovers) or limited (patch screens, resin consolidation). Filtrex changes the paradigm by combining:

• Through-tubing deployment capability and sand clean-out in the same intervention.
• Expansion from compressed deployment state into large ID – navigating tubing restrictions then filling a larger annular space for remediation preventing further sand ingress.
• A retrievable system – enabling future retrieval if required, enhancing asset flexibility.
• Unlimited length – no technical limitations to the target zone coverage unlike conventional solutions such as gravel pack or sand consolidation treatments.