Successful Application of Extra-Long Expandable Cased-Hole Liner Remediates Production Well

摘要

Corrosion in the production liner of a prolific oil production well offshore Saudi Arabia has compromised the well integrity and created several significant leaks, resulting in excessive water encroachment into the produced fluids. The approximately 2,000ft section of the affected casing was across the formation containing the Umm Er-Radhuma water aquifer. Previous attempts to remedy this situation using cement squeezes were unsuccessful. Installation of approximately 2,175ft of 5-1/2in. x 7in. expandable Cased-Hole Liner to remediate the leaking and corroded 7” casing was successfully performed and tested. The one-trip installation proved the expandable technology in terms of its operational reliability, significant installation length, flexibility to line a combination of two different 7” casing weights across the same setting zone, ability to apply isolation joints at selected locations and setting at a shallow depth of 718ft in this application. The results and methodology of the operation during the installing and expanding of the cased-hole liner are further discussed to demonstrate the advances in the development of expandable technology and associated tools for such long and continuous installations. Details of the successful application are used to provide quantitave results of critical parameters that impose challenges and limitations on solid expandable technology. The installed configuration with a post expanded length of 2,081ft, which was pressure tested to 1,000psi; has proven to be the most appropriate solution for the remediation of this type of well challenge.