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Ecuador – Perforation shut off in 10 wells

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Published on 6 December 2022

Using Expandable Steel Patches Saved an Operator 820 Hours of Rig Time

A lower-cost way to shut off perforations prior to injecting water into 10 depleted wells, decreased 93 metric tons of CO2e emissions.

Using Saltel expandable steel patches to seal off open perforations in 10 depleted wells enabled water injection into lower zones, saved time, and reduced both cost and the carbon footprint.

The objective

Casing Patch ready to be RIH

Produced water management represents a significant financial burden for operators. Sometimes it requires them to drill wells just to dispose of the water. The APS Project in Ecuador was preparing to plug and abandon several wells when a decision finally came to repurpose some wells for injection instead—either for produced water disposal or reservoir pressure maintenance. Because the injection zone was deeper than some open perforations, it was necessary to isolate the perforations from the high-pressure, high-rate water injection without losing access to lower sections of the wells.

Effective solution required for sealed off perforation

Produced water management represents a significant financial burden for operators, sometimes requiring them to drill wells just to dispose of the water. The client’s project was preparing to plug and abandon several wells. By the way they realized they could repurpose some wells for injection. (Either for produced water disposal or reservoir pressure maintenance.) The injection zone was deeper than some open perforations. It was necessary to isolate the latter from the high-pressure, and high-rate water injection. This sealed off perforations should not involve losing access to lower sections of the wells.

Expandable steel patches provided an economic and lower-waste alternative to cement squeeze

The client wanted to reduce rig time and expenses, so Schlumberger suggested its Saltel expandable steel patch. This permanent option can repair damaged tubing or casing, close off perforations, and perform other repairs. The internal casing patch, expandable by an inflatable packer, has minimal diameter loss and is made of durable stainless steel. It features a profiled sealing system applied and cured in a controlled environment, with materials varying according to application needs – unlike epoxy resin often used in the field.

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