Published on 25 September 2017
Successful Steel ECP-W installation in P&A application
Stainless Steel External Casing Packer confirmed its robustness, overcoming cut windows and withstanding cycles of overpull, rotation and circulation.
Context
The client had challenging Plug & Abandonment requirements to isolate the water producing lower zone of a multilateral well, in 5-3/4in horizontal openhole section to produce oil flow rate from upper layer, and assess the reservoir quality to unlock future development opportunities.
The application required an isolation packer, part of a P&A kit, to isolate the water zone prior running upper completions. A large expansion ratio was necessary, however traditional inflatable packers were disqualified since they are subject to damage while RIH through high deviated holes and crossing sidetrack cut windows. Schlumberger provided a robust alternative that enabled circulation and rotation during RIH, with very high torque capacity. Solid anchoring performance of the product once set was also mandatory, allowing to launch a mechanical release overpull in contingency plan mode of hydraulic release mechanism.
Solution
Saltel Steel ECP-W [welded] 4.5in was selected as a “rapid response” solution with custom connection design, and for its robust qualities. Steel Expandable Casing Packers can rotate during running in hole, pass through cut windows with no integrity risk concerns on its packer element. The strong anchoring capabilities of this technology, and the slim RIH OD, facilitate its deployment.
