Corrections to: Baker TAML Level 6 design opened door to intelligent junctions

The Technical Feature posted to Oil and Gas Online entitled, "Baker TAML Level 6 design opened door to intelligent junctions," by John Murphy, contains a number of inaccuracies, which Brent Emerson, Product Line Director at Baker Oil Tools' Multilateral Systems notes below. We apologize for these errors.

• With regard to Level 6 multilateral junctions, Paragraph 3 states, "Though to date none have been commercially installed…." Baker Oil Tools has numerous commercial Level 6 installations throughout the world. In fact, we will receive Hart's E&P's Meritorious Engineering Award this year for our Level 6 FORMation Junction system, of which there are currently five commercial installations.
  
• Paragraph 4 states, "… while it has been reported current versions of the level 6 are not offering as much pressure integrity as had been hoped …." Our Level 6 systems offer burst ratings up to 7500 psi, making them more than sufficient for most applications.
  
• Paragraph 11 states, "The other service companies' Holy Grail is the ability to place level 6 completions from smaller main wellbores to accommodate the seven-inch casings common in most deep and offshore wells …." Baker Oil Tools currently offers Level 6 FORMation Junction systems that use 7-inch liners.
  
• Paragraph 13 states, "One service contractor is rumored to be about to announce …." Again, Baker already offers both 7-inch and 7-5/8-inch laterals in a 9-5/8-inch Level 6 system.
  
• Paragraph 16 discusses a multilateral completion that cost Petrobras $40 million. That particular well was a Halliburton Level 5 completion, not a Level 6. Additionally, we totally disagree with Mr. Murphy's statement that "…even ML suppliers admit current costs are prohibitive." Baker Oil Tools clients have realized significant cost savings with our Level 6 multilateral systems.
  
• Paragraph 17 mentions that the industry has "pretty well accepted level 4" multilateral completions. In actuality, Level 4 systems are still not widely accepted because of the risk associated with constructing the junction. Additionally, the comment, "… no level 6 is imminent…," again this is inaccurate, as Baker Level 6 systems are field-proven and in fact, we are already working with our Intelligent Well Systems group to make intelligent multilaterals a reality.

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