Overcoming Completion Challenges With Interventionless Devices - Case Study - The "Disappearing Plug"

Larimore, David R.; Huggins, J.C.; Lyngaas, Kjell Harry; Robb, Ewan; Bach, Terje

doi:10.2118/63111-ms

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…To expend the disappearing plug, 5 it is necessary that any debris on top of the plug is circulated out of the hole. After clean-up is complete the matrix can be pierced with a spear, providing full-bore access to the tubing.…”

Section: Contingency Setting Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

State-of-the-Art Interventionless Completion Technology Provides Key to Greater Cost Reduction and Completion Efficiency

Randy¹,

Juan²,

Neal³

et al. 2000

Proceedings of SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition

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TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractA new system for the remote, interventionless actuation of downhole completion equipment has been developed to support industry needs to lower costs and preserve asset values. The traditional methods for setting a production packer employ coiled tubing or slickline to run a tubing plug.The new system provides a safe, reliable and more cost effective alternative to traditional intervention because it simply transmits acoustic pulses through the contents of tubulars to actuate one or more completion or service tools remotely in any desired sequence.The system not only decreases the time to set the packer but also extends the envelope for application to deep, extended-reach offshore environments. Since the system eliminates the need to circulate a ball downhole to set service tools during sand control operations, the operator can maintain constant hydrostatic pressure on the formation. This capability decreases completion time, intervention risk, the possibility of formation collapse against the completion string, the possibility of losing the filter cake placed against the formation, and fluid loss to the formation.To achieve the goals required for this system, three project targets were addressed: a reliable means of wireless communication, a surface control system, and a downhole power unit for completion device actuation. The design and capabilities of the new surface-operated, non-intervention completion system will improve completion economics.

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Section: Contingency Setting Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

State-of-the-Art Interventionless Completion Technology Provides Key to Greater Cost Reduction and Completion Efficiency

Randy¹,

Juan²,

Neal³

et al. 2000

Proceedings of SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition

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“…Many of these concepts now have been developed and have proven that they can be effective in helping to achieve the desired goals for deepwater completions -lower cost and enhanced safety. 4 The surface-operated nonintervention completion system described in this paper provides an interventionless means of using hydrostatic pressure to set gravel-pack packers. A proprietary pattern of acoustic pulses is sent down the fluid (air, completion fluid, viscous pills or any combination thereof) in the tubing or workstring.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New Setting Technique for Gravel Pack Packers Increases Operational Safety and Reduces Costs

Dawson

Smith

2003

SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition

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TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractIn the typical life cycle of a given well, the majority of the budget is generally allocated to the drilling phase with the remainder to cover the completion costs. If, however, these stages are not kept within planned budget and time parameters, it becomes critical to reduce the time and cost in the final completion strategies to enable the budgeting of the project to be successful. This paper will discuss a new method for setting a gravel-pack packer that can assist in reducing the overall time associated with the completion phase of a well bore, and in turn, the subsequent cost.Packers are traditionally set by dropping a setting ball into the workstring to create a plug in the service tool that is either pinned or threaded to the gravel-pack packer. The plug is subjected to an applied pressure that is translated from the service tool to the packer, which both begins and finishes the packer setting process. The creation of this plug, ball on seat, is affected by several factors. Such factors are wellbore geometry and deviation, the type of completion fluid, and the packer setting depth. Each of these factors relates directly to the time needed to create the plug, the ball landing on seat, and in certain instances, the time needed to reverse the setting ball out of the work string. Again, the time to drop and/or reverse the setting ball all affect operational times.The new technology available eliminates the time and risk associated with using setting balls against which pressure is traditionally applied to set gravel-pack packers. As the system is hydrostatically driven, it allows a constant hydrostatic pressure to be maintained on the formation, reducing the risk of formation collapse, surges on the formation seen when shearing the ball seat out, and the risk of the ball seat shearing prematurely. With fewer completion operations, chances for misruns are reduced, and safety and environmental risks are minimized. The reduction in setting time allows this system to be considered a viable and affordable option for wells that meet the necessary criteria. The cost savings are even greater in offshore environments.

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State-of-the-Art Interventionless Completion Technology Provides Key to Greater Cost Reduction and Completion Efficiency

Simonds

Navarro

Skinner

et al. 2000

SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition

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A new system for the remote, interventionless actuation of downhole completion equipment has been developed to support industry needs to lower costs and preserve asset values. The traditional methods for setting a production packer employ coiled tubing or slickline to run a tubing plug. The new system provides a safe, reliable and more cost effective alternative to traditional intervention because it simply transmits acoustic pulses through the contents of tubulars to actuate one or more completion or service tools remotely in any desired sequence. The system not only decreases the time to set the packer but also extends the envelope for application to deep, extended-reach offshore environments. Since the system eliminates the need to circulate a ball downhole to set service tools during sand control operations, the operator can maintain constant hydrostatic pressure on the formation. This capability decreases completion time, intervention risk, the possibility of formation collapse against the completion string, the possibility of losing the filter cake placed against the formation, and fluid loss to the formation. To achieve the goals required for this system, three project targets were addressed: a reliable means of wireless communication, a surface control system, and a downhole power unit for completion device actuation. The design and capabilities of the new surface-operated, non-intervention completion system will improve completion economics. Introduction The continual need to strive for lower completion costs while preserving or increasing the value of the reservoir is a primary driver in the development of new technology. Several areas have been identified as offering the capabilities to achieve this goal, and the development of completion techniques that allow real time or near real time job monitoring and tools that receive commands without well intervention appear to be capable of meeting these needs. These interventionless techniques should be considered integral parts of "intelligent well" technology.1,2,3,4 The intelligent well completion concept conjures up images of completely automated, electronically or hydraulically controlled wellbore systems that allow two-way command and data transmission. Such systems rely on an umbilical system run from the surface to allow the control of downhole valves and other incrementally controllable devices. Several such systems have been placed in service to date, and while they can significantly increase a project's value, their expense can often be prohibitive. Because of this, the more routine completion operations have largely been ignored in the interventionless arena. The industry has now recognized that similar methods that can bring value to day-to-day completion operations with lower-cost interventionless techniques are also needed. The technology already exists to take features from the more complex systems; i.e., setting packers, operating sliding sleeves, etc., and apply them to projects where the economics do not justify the installation of high-end automated systems. This need has been the driver for the system described in this paper, which employs a stand-alone, battery-operated, electronically controlled hydraulic power unit that uses pressure pulses as a communication medium for setting a variety of completion equipment. This capability eliminates the need to run a tubing plug with coiled tubing or slickline. Both permanent production equipment and service tools in sand control applications can be actuated with control-line output from the downhole power unit. Initial system design has focused on the development of reliable surface to total depth (TD) communication to activate downhole devices. Job information can be relayed in near real time to the service company or operator locations by means of satellite or cellular technology during completion operations.

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Overcoming Completion Challenges With Interventionless Devices - Case Study - The "Disappearing Plug"

Cited by 5 publications

References 2 publications

State-of-the-Art Interventionless Completion Technology Provides Key to Greater Cost Reduction and Completion Efficiency

State-of-the-Art Interventionless Completion Technology Provides Key to Greater Cost Reduction and Completion Efficiency

New Setting Technique for Gravel Pack Packers Increases Operational Safety and Reduces Costs

State-of-the-Art Interventionless Completion Technology Provides Key to Greater Cost Reduction and Completion Efficiency

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