Customized Solution Helps Prevent Future Failures in Lower Completion

Challenge

An operator in the North Sea faced a lower completion lock-up 800m above total depth (TD), followed by a stuck pipe event in an ERD multi-lateral well. In an initial effort to push the completion down to TD, all slack off weight and torque margin were used. Since no improvement was observed, the decision was made to pull-out. However, the string remained stuck and despite the rig efforts to free it, the lower completion had to be cut and left in hole.

Solution

H&P’s DrillScan® technology team performed an in-depth post-analysis, reviewing all available data to identify what might have caused the lock-up event. The data provided was used to simulate the downhole conditions undergone by the completion with the DrillScan genuine stiff-string model. The results and conclusions pointed to string dysfunctions: suboptimal tripping and lubricating/ backreaming practices (BHA POOH) led to repeatedly exceeding the screens yield strength (lower completion RIH).

Outcome

H&P’s DrillScan software was able to provide the operator with relevant recommendations, slack-off and torque road maps, as well as proper cleaning and tripping practices, to help avoid such lock-up events from occurring again while completing their next wells.

Proof

The outputs provided to the operator have a substantial impact on the success of the lower completion deployment operation. In such complex ERD wells, this translates into preventing:

• Loss of expensive completion equipment
• Sidetrack drilling to substitute for the lateral drain lost
• 25 days of nonproductive time (NPT) at a daily rate of ~ $500,000 USD = $12.5MM USD

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