The customer in Brunei completed a smart well water injector in 2006. They planned to install further, similar injector wells in the same field but there were concerns about possible corrosion and metal loss in the various tubing strings in the well. The caliper/camera was run to ascertain if this was the case and the extent of damage.
Expro’s solution
Expro Brunei performed a horizontal cased hole logging service. The logging interval had a maximum inclination of 90.8 deg which is too deviated for conventional wireline deployment. Therefore, a well tractor was deployed to convey the logging strings. In this logging operation, the MIT is logged with surface readout (SRO) which allows realtime data acquisition and is the first realtime log acquired by Expro Brunei.
Results
The top section of the well consisted of 31/2” plastic coated tubing, with the remainder non-coated 27/8” and some 23/8”. As expected, there was no damage observed in the 31/2” but the 27/8” tubing exhibited corrosion throughout the logged interval (the 23/8” was not logged). Maximum measured pitting was in the order of 35-40%. As a result, the customer has committed to running future wells with 25% Chrome tubing to deny or delay corrosive attack and will monitor the situation in the smart well with further caliper surveys.
The key challenge for this project is the involvement with multiple companies especially in the equipment integration. This has been overcome with dedication of the team members to resolve the issues and testing of the equipment prior to the job.
Technologies used
Expro’s downhole video and multi-imaging tool and conveyed by a downhole tractor powered by electric wireline.
Radial Cutting Torch solution in Brunei
Customer’s problem
The customer asked Expro to supply tools to cut 31/2” 12.7 lb/ft, 13% chrome tubing in well. The rig was over the well for a work-over and the tubing was found to be stuck somewhere below our intended target depth of 530 meters.
Expro’s solution
The Radial Cutting Torch designed for 31/2” tubing was sent out to the rig on the same day the request was made, accompanied by two Expro engineers.
Slickline equipment was already on board and rigged up. By midnight on the same day the tools were programmed and run in the well to 530 meters with an elapsed time setting of one hour. As the tubing weight was more than normally found in Brunei wells and with significant chrome content, an extension to the torch was added to provide extra power.
The tubing was held in tension, although this is not strictly necessary for the torch operation.
At 01:30am the trigger activated and the tubing jumped 2-3 ft, confirming a complete cut.
The tools were retrieved and the condition of the nozzle confirmed the ignition of the tool.
Results
Once the tubing was retrieved to surface the resulting cut could be observed as being clean and without flare.
The tool was able to make the cut the first time where chemical cutters had failed previously.
Technologies used
The Radial Cutting Torch
Perforating gas wells in AMDP30
Customer’s problem
The client wanted to perforate a new zone in the horizontal section of the well to enhance production and optimise recovery.
Expro’s solution
In 2010 Expro Brunei performed a number of perforating jobs on slickline, primarily targeting gas wells. On every platform within the customer’s offshore fields, the platform crane is limited to 2000 kg. This makes any electric line operations very costly and time consuming as all equipment has to be brought to the field by large barge and positioned with the barge crane. Expro was able to overcome these traditional cost and time issues as its slickline equipment was already available at the field, and could be easily moved by the platform crane.
Five gas wells were perforated on using 2” guns. A total of 33 runs were conducted with a total footage of 512 feet. One of the gas wells was perforated using 33/8” guns, a first for Expro in Brunei, (both the size and the charge). Guns were run as 2 x 11 ft in tandem and the slickline used was 0.125” o.d. Prior concerns about excessive weight were allayed, initially by commissioning a Cerberus analysis which predicted a maximum pulling weight of 980 lbs. In reality, the actual maximum weight observed was 1050 lbs. A total of 10 gun runs were made with an overall footage of 115 feet. The gain from this well alone was 28% higher than predicted.
One of the oil wells perforated using 2” guns was another first for Expro in that the well was horizontal. Guns were run as 3 x 11 ft in tandem on coiled tubing and fired via a Pressure Activated Firing Head. The gun string was deployed in BOPs allowing make up of upper coil assemblies. A total of 6 runs were conducted with no problems encountered. Footage was 200 feet.
Results
Total gas gain from the first three wells was some 13% more than predicted.
The gain from the well perforated using the 33/8” guns alone was 28% higher than predicted.
One further well, another oil well was opened to flow after a (sand) restriction blocked off the only remaining zone in the well. The zone was reopened by punching the tubing just above the restriction. This well is now flowing oil. In summary, the slickline perforation campaign has been operationally successful and contributed additional production gain.
Technologies used
2” guns
33/8” guns
Expro provides successful application of CaTS in challenging offshore platform well
Customer’s problem
Expro has successfully applied its Cableless Telemetry System (CaTS) in a challenging offshore platform well in the UK North Sea.
The well, operated by BP Exploration Ltd, had experienced problems with one of its cabled permanent gauge systems and the operator was interested in evaluating new technologies that could restore the flow of real-time reservoir pressure and temperature data without having to work over the well.
Expro’s solution
Prior attempts to retrofit CaTS in the offshore platform environment have proved challenging to the technology, thus promoting an extensive program of research and development activity, which has resulted in this latest breakthrough.
Results
Through the introduction of new signal processing hardware, it is now possible to relay the CaTS signal to the surface using the failed permanent gauge and cable as a signal path.
Technologies used
CaTS is a revolutionary development in the field of reservoir monitoring and control, allowing information to be transmitted in real time to and from downhole instruments without the use of wireline systems. Its two-way transmission capability enables the remote control of downhole instrumentation, opening the path to the radical redesign of downhole completions.
The CaTS system was retrofitted into the well on slickline as part of a routine well intervention campaign on the platform and is transmitting data from the reservoir to surface using Expro’s market-leading wireless telemetry technology. The CaTS topside data receiver is interfaced to the platform SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system, thus enabling the bottom hole pressure and temperature data to be received in real time by the reservoir engineers onshore.
Expro’s solution unlocks treasures of Pinedale through CaTS technology
Customer’s problem
The Pinedale field covers an area 35 miles long by six miles wide with a reservoir section comprising sandstones, siltstones and shales. Due to the very low “tight” permeability of these formations it has proven to be very difficult to produce the gas economically.
Expro’s solution
Expro’s Cableless Telemetry System (CaTS) delivers high accuracy, real time, pressure data from places in the wellbore where it may be difficult, or on occasions, even impossible to monitor the reservoir using conventional cabled monitoring systems.
Results
CaTS uses the well casing as a conduit along which to transmit downhole pressure and temperature data from downhole to surface. Adopting CaTS technology in this case has enabled high value decisions to be taken, cost effectively, regarding optimisation of the field development plan.
Technologies used
CaTS is a revolutionary development in the field of reservoir monitoring and control, allowing information to be transmitted in real time to and from downhole instruments without the use of wireline systems in the well.
Wireline Intervention
Customer’s problem
The customer in Brunei completed a smart well water injector in 2006. They planned to install further, similar injector wells in the same field but there were concerns about possible corrosion and metal loss in the various tubing strings in the well. The caliper/camera was run to ascertain if this was the case and the extent of damage.
Expro’s solution
Expro Brunei performed a horizontal cased hole logging service. The logging interval had a maximum inclination of 90.8 deg which is too deviated for conventional wireline deployment. Therefore, a well tractor was deployed to convey the logging strings. In this logging operation, the MIT is logged with surface readout (SRO) which allows realtime data acquisition and is the first realtime log acquired by Expro Brunei.
Results
The top section of the well consisted of 31/2” plastic coated tubing, with the remainder non-coated 27/8” and some 23/8”. As expected, there was no damage observed in the 31/2” but the 27/8” tubing exhibited corrosion throughout the logged interval (the 23/8” was not logged). Maximum measured pitting was in the order of 35-40%. As a result, the customer has committed to running future wells with 25% Chrome tubing to deny or delay corrosive attack and will monitor the situation in the smart well with further caliper surveys.
The key challenge for this project is the involvement with multiple companies especially in the equipment integration. This has been overcome with dedication of the team members to resolve the issues and testing of the equipment prior to the job.
Technologies used
Expro’s downhole video and multi-imaging tool and conveyed by a downhole tractor powered by electric wireline.
Radial Cutting Torch solution in Brunei
Customer’s problem
The customer asked Expro to supply tools to cut 31/2” 12.7 lb/ft, 13% chrome tubing in well. The rig was over the well for a work-over and the tubing was found to be stuck somewhere below our intended target depth of 530 meters.
Expro’s solution
The Radial Cutting Torch designed for 31/2” tubing was sent out to the rig on the same day the request was made, accompanied by two Expro engineers.
Slickline equipment was already on board and rigged up. By midnight on the same day the tools were programmed and run in the well to 530 meters with an elapsed time setting of one hour. As the tubing weight was more than normally found in Brunei wells and with significant chrome content, an extension to the torch was added to provide extra power.
The tubing was held in tension, although this is not strictly necessary for the torch operation.
At 01:30am the trigger activated and the tubing jumped 2-3 ft, confirming a complete cut.
The tools were retrieved and the condition of the nozzle confirmed the ignition of the tool.
Results
Once the tubing was retrieved to surface the resulting cut could be observed as being clean and without flare.
The tool was able to make the cut the first time where chemical cutters had failed previously.
Technologies used
The Radial Cutting Torch
Customer’s problem
The client wanted to perforate a new zone in the horizontal section of the well to enhance production and optimise recovery.
Expro’s solution
In 2010 Expro Brunei performed a number of perforating jobs on slickline, primarily targeting gas wells. On every platform within the customer’s offshore fields, the platform crane is limited to 2000 kg. This makes any electric line operations very costly and time consuming as all equipment has to be brought to the field by large barge and positioned with the barge crane. Expro was able to overcome these traditional cost and time issues as its slickline equipment was already available at the field, and could be easily moved by the platform crane.
Five gas wells were perforated on using 2” guns. A total of 33 runs were conducted with a total footage of 512 feet. One of the gas wells was perforated using 33/8” guns, a first for Expro in Brunei, (both the size and the charge). Guns were run as 2 x 11 ft in tandem and the slickline used was 0.125” o.d. Prior concerns about excessive weight were allayed, initially by commissioning a Cerberus analysis which predicted a maximum pulling weight of 980 lbs. In reality, the actual maximum weight observed was 1050 lbs. A total of 10 gun runs were made with an overall footage of 115 feet. The gain from this well alone was 28% higher than predicted.
One of the oil wells perforated using 2” guns was another first for Expro in that the well was horizontal. Guns were run as 3 x 11 ft in tandem on coiled tubing and fired via a Pressure Activated Firing Head. The gun string was deployed in BOPs allowing make up of upper coil assemblies. A total of 6 runs were conducted with no problems encountered. Footage was 200 feet.
Results
Total gas gain from the first three wells was some 13% more than predicted.
The gain from the well perforated using the 33/8” guns alone was 28% higher than predicted.
One further well, another oil well was opened to flow after a (sand) restriction blocked off the only remaining zone in the well. The zone was reopened by punching the tubing just above the restriction. This well is now flowing oil. In summary, the slickline perforation campaign has been operationally successful and contributed additional production gain.
Technologies used
2” guns
33/8” guns
Expro provides successful application of CaTS in challenging offshore platform well
Customer’s problem
Expro has successfully applied its Cableless Telemetry System (CaTS) in a challenging offshore platform well in the UK North Sea.
The well, operated by BP Exploration Ltd, had experienced problems with one of its cabled permanent gauge systems and the operator was interested in evaluating new technologies that could restore the flow of real-time reservoir pressure and temperature data without having to work over the well.
Expro’s solution
Prior attempts to retrofit CaTS in the offshore platform environment have proved challenging to the technology, thus promoting an extensive program of research and development activity, which has resulted in this latest breakthrough.
Results
Through the introduction of new signal processing hardware, it is now possible to relay the CaTS signal to the surface using the failed permanent gauge and cable as a signal path.
Technologies used
CaTS is a revolutionary development in the field of reservoir monitoring and control, allowing information to be transmitted in real time to and from downhole instruments without the use of wireline systems. Its two-way transmission capability enables the remote control of downhole instrumentation, opening the path to the radical redesign of downhole completions.
The CaTS system was retrofitted into the well on slickline as part of a routine well intervention campaign on the platform and is transmitting data from the reservoir to surface using Expro’s market-leading wireless telemetry technology. The CaTS topside data receiver is interfaced to the platform SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system, thus enabling the bottom hole pressure and temperature data to be received in real time by the reservoir engineers onshore.
Expro’s solution unlocks treasures of Pinedale through CaTS technology
Customer’s problem
The Pinedale field covers an area 35 miles long by six miles wide with a reservoir section comprising sandstones, siltstones and shales. Due to the very low “tight” permeability of these formations it has proven to be very difficult to produce the gas economically.
Expro’s solution
Expro’s Cableless Telemetry System (CaTS) delivers high accuracy, real time, pressure data from places in the wellbore where it may be difficult, or on occasions, even impossible to monitor the reservoir using conventional cabled monitoring systems.
Results
CaTS uses the well casing as a conduit along which to transmit downhole pressure and temperature data from downhole to surface. Adopting CaTS technology in this case has enabled high value decisions to be taken, cost effectively, regarding optimisation of the field development plan.
Technologies used
CaTS is a revolutionary development in the field of reservoir monitoring and control, allowing information to be transmitted in real time to and from downhole instruments without the use of wireline systems in the well.