Safe Mechanical Perforation of Pipe with Connected Control Lines

Abstract

Currently, oil and gas operators face a number of significant challenges, such as meeting increasing demand and using safe and environmentally responsible methods as well as minimizing costs while maximizing the profitability of highly complex operations. One solution is to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of assets by successfully integrating monitoring and active control systems. This led to the implementation of smart-well completions (i.e., interval control valves, interval control devices, subsurface safety valve systems, and fiber optic monitoring) (Rodriguez et al. 2013).Yet, some companies still resist this technology because of risk concerns, such as valve failures occurring or bypassed pay zones that warrant well intervention being necessary, which involves pipe perforation. When a control line or umbilical line is strapped to the outside of a well completion, risk is increased for the well intervention. In most instances, it is not possible to pinpoint the exact location of the line within a 360° span of the curvature of the tubing. This is because some completion designs without pre-planned indicators of line placement add to the challenges associated with control and data line moving during the running phase of the well completion. Without the ability to locate the line used for communication with downhole devices, the potential for damage exists resulting from conventional methods of explosive perforation. The development of a nondamaging perforation method provides a means to establish needed communication while helping avoid unrecoverable damage to an asset.