Solution for the Repair of Holes in Production Tubing Without Rig and Without Wireline Operations

Abstract

Summary The objective of this paper is to present the development and application of a tool to repair holes in oilwell production tubing, using a method that does not require rig and wireline operations to locate the depth of the hole. The tool locates the leak and repairs it in a single run, reducing the time required to re-establish well production. This article describes the operational mechanism of the tool and its installation process. Two repairs were performed in oil wells, one of which sealed a hole near the bottom of the tubing and the second of which sealed a hole near the surface. The holes were sealed in a fraction of the time required by current solutions. This newly developed tool is a cost-effective alternative for resolving oilwell-integrity problems.