Published on 12 April 2021
Saltel Industries remediates sustained annulus pressure with the successful installation of Saltel expandable steel external casing packers. Oil and gas operators share a common objective. They need to ensure effective annular isolation with primary cementing. A successful primary cementing job should achieve two critical goals:
- Bond and support the casing.
- Restrict/eliminate fluid movement between the formations (sustained annulus pressure).
Remediating sustained casing pressure (SCP – )
In numerous cases, the cement bond sets with fluid or gas migrations. Such micro annulus occurrences give what we commonly call channeling.
In this case, the client had Bradenhead pressures (sustained annulus pressure) in the B and C annulus during drilling.
There had been some previous failing attempts with inflatable or compressive well packer technologies. The whole did not give consistent results.
The external casing packer was expanded in a 13.375in casing in wet cement to prevent channeling (gas migrations) in the annulus.
Changing the game with Saltel Xpandable external casing packer (ECP).
The external casing Packer expanded in green cement during primary cementing operations. The ECP isolates the high-pressure zone and blocks any flow or migration in the annulus. Likewise, it supports the cement column until it is cured up to the surface.
Saltel external casing packer overcame Bradenhead pressure in both cased and open holes.
In summary, the client installed five 9.625in expandable steel external casing packers in green cement. The installations occurred alternatively in the 13.375in casings and 12.25in open-hole sections. The goal was to improve the primary cementing jobs.
Besides, the average setting depth was 650-1000 ft.
The first achievements of a promising drilling campaign involving Saltel Xpandable* technology in 100% of the wells.
The client did not have to make significant changes in his cement program. The operations went smoothly, and the packers succeeded as per plan. The ECPs left solid barriers in the annulus. The cement bond logs confirmed the better cement quality. As a result, the client was satisfied with the ECP technology. The operations demonstrated the versatility of this sealing system in both cased and open holes. On top of that, given their fit-for-basin added value, the ECPs were the 1st out of a starting drilling campaign. This campaign would involve ECPs in 100% of the wells completed.
