Composite and dissolvable plugs combine for optimal economics. With hundreds of thousands of well stages completed every year using the plug-and-perf (PNP) technique, it is the No. 1 stimulation process used in unconventional reservoirs. The inherent need for plug removal in a PNP operation has fueled the evolution of these devices to incorporate features to facilitate such removal. Early fracture plugs were made from metal and featured solid mandrels, making them extremely robust. As wells became longer and stage count higher, plug millout proved to be challenging. Under such conditions, returns do not easily reach the surface, and fluid is often lost into the recently created fractures. Debris from the plugs removed can accumulate in the horizontal section, posing a risk of getting the coiled tubing (CT) stuck during the operation.
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