After six years combating pressures of 14,000 psi and temperatures of 350℉ (177℃) the production string was finally pulled from High Island A-5 well #1 situated about 35 miles south of Sabine Pass off the Texas coast. Remarkably, the identification markings on the pipe were still intact. Once it was out, the last and deepest joint of production string was examined thoroughly by Salah Mahmoud of MTL Engineering, Inc. in Houston. "Our tests show that the strength and toughness of the 13Cr tubular was unaffected by its lengthy exposure to the packer fluid, a 1.38 s.g. (11.5 ppg) sodium/potassium formate brine. The entire tubular length was also free of pitting or corrosion and there were no signs of embrittlement. Detailed microscopic examination of the tubular surface and cross-section samples also reveals that it is entirely free of any cracks or microfractures."
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