Extending the Frontiers of Solid Expandable Tubular Technology (SET): The Challenges - A Review of Installations in the Niger Delta

摘要

With the vision to improve production in SPDC by 20% (to overrn1.0MMbopd) in the short term coupled with incessantrncommunity disturbance & the thrust to reduce environmentalrnimpact, most new wells favour utilising existing facilities andrninnovative technology to reduce cost & boost production.rnExpandable Tubular Technology (ETT) was one the keyrntechnologies identified for to achieve this. Over 150 wells werernidentified for this technology in the medium term with 3 wellsrnselected as quick wins for deployment of the SET in 2001. Thernselection criteria were based on low risk, reduced unit technicalrncost and the need to extend the envelope of the technology.rnThis paper focuses on the challenges encountered in thernplanning & execution phase. It addresses the contracting,rnprocurement and logistics constraints associated with the firstrndeployment of the technology outside the Gulf of Mexico. Itrnemphasises the engineering considerations applied to assess therntechnical feasibility of deploying SET. The applications alsornutilised a novel cementing technique "Settable Spotting Fluid"rnfrom Halliburton to minimise the risk of cross flow & low sidernchannelling, a common situation in high angle applications inrnthe Niger Delta. Finally, It reviews the economic justificationsrnand highlights the value of the technology (acceleratedrnproduction, reduced risk cost & lost opportunity).rnThe challenges encountered and mitigated during executionrnclimaxed with the installation of the World’s first horizontalrnOpen Hole Liner (OHL) in Agbada 1ST. The successes havernnow extended the application of the technology from the currentrn20% of the global market to 80% of the global market (highangle/rnhorizontal wells) with a thrust of revolutionizing thernconcept of well delivery.