SPE 89659

Small outer Diameter, Big Bore Permanent Straddle System

Helge Halvorsen, Eirik Enerstvedt, yvind Sundem Weatherford

Copyright 2004, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc.

This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE/ICoTA Coiled Tubing Conference and
Exhibition held in Houston, Texas, U.S.A., 2324 March 2004.
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Abstract
This paper describes a case history of a "Small Outer Diameter
-Big Bore Permanent Straddle System" installed in a well
offshore in the North Sea December 2002.
The purpose of the platform well as an injector was
WAG injection in the lower zones. To obtain this, the upper
zones had to be isolated due to corrosion in the tubing. This
was successfully achieved with Weatherford Seal Bore Packer
system, leaving access to the lower zones with 2 3/8 CT
through the Straddle.
Economically it is cheaper to use a solution like this
instead of changing the whole tubing with a full workover of
the well.
Introduction
Well P-45 is a deviated well located in the Norwegian sector
of the North Sea. The well penetrates the Lunde formation in
reservoir zones L06-L12, and is primarily a WAG (Water
Alternating Gas) injector, which is to inject into reservoir
zones L10-L12. The well was being back produced from L06L09 (See picture 1.).
An intervention to close upper SSD, open Middle SSD and
clean up reservoir zones L07-L09 was performed in July 2001.
After several attempts to close upper SSD and open Middle
SSD, the production tubing below Middle SSD was
perforated.
In December 2001 an intervention to perforate the well
was performed. PLT and caliper results indicated holes in
tubing at 6560m, 6580m and 6710m MD RKB (main rig).
When attempting to run perforating guns using a deployment
system some problems were experienced and the job was
cancelled.
The objectives with this intervention that took place
December 2002 was to kill the well, perforate reservoir zones
L10-L12, isolate holes/perforations in tubing and clean up
reservoir zones L10-L12.

Purpose of the well was WAG injection in the lower zones

L10-L12. To achieve this, the lower zones had to be
perforated, and the upper zones isolated. However, the earlier
production resulted in sand influx, which locked the sliding
sleeves and corroded the tubing. Based on this, the decision
was to isolate this 355m long interval with a 3-Packer Straddle
system.
This paper refers to the zonal isolation part of the job. Prior
to this job, a 2 3/8 CT perforation operation was carried out
to obtain injection to the lower zones (7027-7177 m
MDRKB).
The result confirmed the success of the Straddle operation,
as the water injection rate of 4800 Sm3 /d was slightly higher
than expected. Smallest ID in the well was only reduced by 1
to 2,688, leaving access for optional interventions with 2 3/8
CT through the Straddle (See Picture 2).
Although there were four different service companies
dependant on each others co-operation for pumping, CT,
Straddle Packer and depth correlation, the complexity of the
operation was successfully and safely executed.
Challenges and Solutions
The Weatherford project was to install a permanent Straddle
inside a 4 1/2" tubing by use of a 2 3/8" OD Coiled tubing
work string. There were a number of challenges to be
addressed regarding the well P-45:

Corroded tubing
Long deviated well, 7200md 80 deg
4 Tubing with 3,960ID
Had to pass through 3 ea Sliding Sleeves with 3,688 ID
SSD at 6513 MD 78 Deg.
SSD at 6638 MD 72 Deg.
SSD at 6782 MD 63 Deg.

A long interval to be isolated

Long BHA to be run
To stabilise the well, unknown pore pressure in the lower
zone
Depth control

In order to meet the challenges, a 3,65 OD

Permanent Straddle Packer System with High Pressure
Overshots and 2,688 Big Bore was chosen. The Bottom,
Middle and Top Packer Straddles can be stacked and installed
in 3 runs, giving option for later zone control. A wireless CCL
was used for depth correlation.

SPE 89659

Operational Execution
The Weatherford project was to install a permanent Straddle
inside a 4 1/2" tubing by use of a 2 3/8" OD Coiled tubing
work string. Prior to this the well had to be killed due to the
long toolstring used when installing perforation guns and
Straddle without deployment system. An alternative was to
perform multiple runs in a live well, but this was not
considered to be an effective method since the maximun BHA
length would have been limited to only 20 meters.

Packer # 3
Finally a Top Packer with a High Pressure Releasable
Overshot and 106m of 3 1/2" tubing was run and latched on to
the Middle Packer. Tagged Middle Packer and set down
weight. 2000 lbs overpull confirmed that High Pressure
Overshots was latched. Setting down weight closed the
circulation ports. Increased pressure to 3200 psi in coil to set
Top Packer. The Top Packer was set with top of entry sub at
6494.2 m MD. (See picture 5)

Killing the well

The purpose of the drift run was to kill the well before running
the perforation guns. Ran in with 3,65 Drift and wireless
CCL BHA to 7191m MD without problems. Simulated drag /
pull and used CCL Tool for depth correlation. Flagged coil at
6500 m. Dropped 7/8 ball to activate CCL circulation ports
and killed well with 1.25 s.g NaCl/NaBr brine and 1.34 s.g
NaCl kill pill. POOH and observed well with swab valve
closed. Due to losses in well a additional run was made.
Displaced 16 m3 kill pill at 6840m. Well stable, POOH.

Clean out
RIH with CT to Top of the Straddle and circulated to seawater.
Opened well to test separator and flow tested to 4000 m3 /d.
Pulled out of hole, end of operations.

Perforation
RIH with 158m 2 3/4 Perforation guns. Perforated the
interval 7027-7177m MD. Did not use the CCL, but correlated
against flagged coil at 6500m MD.
Used ball in firing head instead of ball due to small
clearance through ball seat for circulation sub.
Setting the Straddle Packers
Status of well before installation:
The well is shut in
Well filled with kill pill and brine
Min. IDs through SSDs 3,688
Well drifted to TD SSDs assumed closed, positions of
SSDs uncertain
Well is perforated in L10-L12 (4,5 Liner)
Packer # 1
RIH with Bottom Packer equipped with a wire line entry
guide. Correlated to correct setting depth. At confirmed depth,
we pressured up and sheared the CCL logging tool. Increased
pressure in coil, set Packer at 3200 psi and verified that the
Packer was set. The Bottom permanent Packer was set at 6848
m (See picture 4).
Packer # 2
Then a High Pressure Releasable Overshot and 236 m of 3
1/2" tubing was run with the Middle Permanent Packer and
latched on to the Bottom Packer. Tagged Bottom Packer and
set down weight. 2000 lbs overpull confirmed that High
Pressure Overshot was engaged. Setting down weight closed
the circulation ports. Increased circulation pressure to 3200 psi
in coil to set Middle Packer. The Middle Packer was set with
element at 6607.2 m MD. (See picture 4)

Lessons learned
Even with 3,688 as smallest ID in well and with 3,65
biggest OD at the Straddle, we did not have any problems
to pass the minimum restrictons.
To lath on with the High Pressure Over Shot at 6850m
and approx. 70 degrees, we had to set down weight and
wait for 5 min. before the force had reached the end of the
coil
There were no problems in placing the Packers at the
correct depth and the Hydraulic Setting Tool worked
without any problems
The wireless CCL worked without problems and gave a
good depth control

Conclusions
Straddled off old perforation and corroded tubing with
Bottom, Middle and Top Packer and 3 tubing between.
Total length of the Straddle was 355 m in 3 runs. Before
running the Straddle the smallest restriction in well was 3,688
and ended up with 2,688 as the smallest ID through the
Straddle.
This installation was performed successfully without any
problems even passing through three sliding sleeves with a
3,688 bore located at 6514, 6637 and 6784 meters depth. The
Packers had a 3,650" OD, which gave us only a 0,038" (0,97
mm) clearance. With this Permanent Packer System installed,
future interventions can be done to the Bottom part of the
reservoir. This since our system gives through bore access for
2 3/8" OD CT.
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank all personnel involved contributing
to a successful and safe operation.

SPE 89659

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Picture 1: Completion schematic, P-45.

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Picture 2: Completion schematic with installed Straddle.

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SPE 89659

Picture 3: Straddle BHA.

Picture 4: Bottom / Middle Packer and Overshot.

Picture 5: Top Packer.