An Improved Method for Shifting Sliding Sleeves on ICD Screen Completions in Extended- and Mega-Reach Applications Combining a Novel Shifting Tool with Coiled Tubing Well Tractor Technology

Abstract

Korchagina and Filanovskoe oil fields in the north Caspian Sea have many extended- and mega-reach wells that uses inflow control device (ICD) screen completions with sliding sleeves. This completion technique empowers the operator with the ability to shut off unwanted water/gas breakthrough and allows for more control of injection or inflow with unlimited number of stages or zones. This paper describes a new verified workflow to successfully intervene these wells and manipulate (open/close) these sliding sleeves using coiled tubing (CT). It has proven challenging to shift these sliding sleeves using conventional methods with CT owing to the limitation of available weight on bit (WOB) at the toe end of those extended-reach wells, even when using large-size CT strings. The new proposed workflow uses a well tractor operated in tandem with a hydraulic shifting tool to generate the required shifting force downhole. The bottomhole assembly (BHA) also includes a novel flow control sub, assembled between the shifting tool and the tractor, with the ability to control the flow to selectively activate the tractor, the shifting tool, or both, based on surface commands by manipulating pump rate. To verify the methodology, a realistic well scenario was simulated at a test site by installing two ICD screens with sliding sleeves at the end of a 1,000-ft-long horizontal flow loop. The sleeves on each ICD screen required approximately 4,000 lbf set-down force to open. The available WOB at the end of horizontal loop with 2-in. CT was only 1,000 lbf; applying more than 1,000 lbf set-down load could have detrimental effects, including CT buckling. The 3⅞-in. OD well tractor used for the job was able to generate 6,000 lbf of pulling force downhole, which was more than enough to shift the sleeves open. Both sleeves were successfully opened by tractoring down while maintaining both the tractor and the shifting tool in the on position, which was achieved by manipulating the flow control sub using pump rate cycles. Both sleeves were then successfully closed, one after the other, by pulling with the CT with the tractor turned off while maintaining the shifting tool in the on position, again achieved by manipulating the flow control sub. Live downhole pressure and force measurements were key in confirming proper functionality of the tractor and identifying different tool modes. Having real-time data is also crucial for proper depth correlation using casing collar locators (CCL) or gamma ray measurements to ensure activating the correct sleeves. This marks the first time that a workflow was verified on the use of pull force generated by a well tractor to manipulate completion accessories in extended-reach well interventions using CT. The technology, preparation, results, and prospects of implementation are discussed in this paper.