Well Integrity Assessment Using Video Camera Technology - Case Histories

Fishing operations are complex and time consuming. This is due to the associated uncertainty with the orientation and condition of the tool that requires fishing. In this paper, a case study is presented which demonstrates the usefulness of utilizing downhole camera technology in conjunction with fishing operations. The use of real time camera inspection enabled successful fishing of a challenging plug. In addition, the traditional trial and error approach used in most fishing operations was avoided reducing the operation time and cost. The paper case study is a high pressure oil producer that has a stuck retrievable plug at 200 ft. The presence of the fish at a shallow depth makes well intervention operations critical from well control perspectives. In such cases, fishing operations must be meticulously designed to account and plan for contingencies should complications arise during fishing. Attempts to fish the plug using normal and heavy duty slickline were not successful. During these fishing attempts, several tools were lost in hole due to the damaged nature of the stuck plug adding to the complexity of the fishing operation. To address this challenge, a downhole camera with real time data transmission capability was run in the well using coiled tubing to enable viewing the condition and orientation of the lost fishing tools and the stuck plug. The results of the camera inspection runs were instrumental in subsequent fishing tools selection and adjusting the operating procedures. The first camera run revealed the presence of metal objects obstructing proper latch to the fish neck. Following clean-up runs with magnet, the second camera inspection run clearly showed partial damage to the top of fish neck (chipped out metal piece). The rest of the fishneck was found intact. Given the nature of damage to the top of the fishneck, conventional fishing tool sizes (3 in.) were not able to latch the fish. Accordingly, a smaller fishing tool (1.26 in. spear) was run and latched inside the bottom of the fish neck instead of the damaged top. The 1.26 in. spear run was successful in latching inside the fishneck and in recovering the fish safely. The fishing operation design, job execution, and contingencies will all be discussed in this paper.

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Sand Containment in Deep Gas Fields

Kindi¹,

Dobroskok²,

Pande³

et al. 2018

Day 2 Tue, November 13, 2018

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In the central area of the Sultanate of Oman, gas and condensate from five different fields are processed through one gas production station which has been in operation for over 10 years. Despite the highly consolidated nature of these deep sandstone reservoirs, sand was observed in the inlet separators. This work will: Illustrate the methods used to identify the source of sand (field, well, and formation).Establish short, medium, and long term solutions. A strategy was created to investigate the source of sand and the extent of damage inflicted on the facility. Mitigation measures in the form of short to long term solutions were also implemented, addressing issues arising both in the surface and subsurface. Monitoring included clamp-on sand detectors and Sonic MPLT with camera with mitigation work including modification of the inlet separator and desander installation upstream the inlet separator Two fields were identified to be the potential source of sand, based on the clamp on sand detection campaign. One field has commingled production from three reservoirs and was later confirmed to be the true source of sand; the second field was identified to be producing frac proppant only. Different techniques were used to narrow down the sand producing reservoir by comparative study of the minerology of existing core and produced sand samples, sonic MPLT with camera, modeling of formation stress mechanics, and other means of WRM interventions. Results concluded that sand production was not limited to a single reservoir yet the deepest is the major contributer. To maintain the integrity of the facility, both surface and subsurface mitigation measures were assesed. Due to limitations in the existing well completions, surface solutions were preferred.. By evaluating the facility, it was decided to modify the design of the inlet separator to trap the sand and clean it out periodically. In addition, well flow rates were constrained to below the erosion critical velocity to avoid any loss of containment. Finally, an integrity test was conducted to the flowline and equipment (from wellhead to export line), to create a surveillance and maintenance strategy to prevent facility damage. In summary: Modern technologies including Sonic MPLT with Camera proved capable of identifying the formation responsible for sand production under the conditions of fluid clarity and flow condition (Turbulent.Deep, well consolidated sandstone reservoirs are capable of sand production due to depletion and or water production.The facility downstream was protected by means of a simple modification to the inlet separator, demonstrating a simple and unconventional solution.Sand management system usage enabled sand removal from the inlet separator water stream during production, preventing loss of production.

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Well Integrity Assessment Using Video Camera Technology - Case Histories

Cited by 4 publications

References 3 publications

Application of Downhole Video Online Detection Tecnology in Workover Operation

Application of Downhole Video Online Detection Tecnology in Workover Operation

Successful Use of Downhole Camera Technology to Assist Fishing Operation

Sand Containment in Deep Gas Fields

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