Halliburton Retrievable Tools save operator $750,000 USD

Overview

A major operator in the Gulf of Mexico needed a time-saving solution to isolate a deepwater well and perform a routine negative test. To provide a single-trip solution, Halliburton recommended a solution comprising a combination bottomhole assembly with an RTTS packer, a Model 2 circulating valve, a BP hydraulic setting tool, and an EZ Drill bridge plug. This solution ultimately resulted in the bottomhole assembly (BHA) being run successfully, thus eliminating an extra trip downhole and saving the operator an estimated USD $750,000.

Challenge

This major operator was routinely making two trips downhole in order to isolate the well and conduct a negative test. The first trip was to set and test a drillable bridge plug, followed by a second trip with the service packer to perform a negative test. The purpose of the negative test was to determine the integrity of the wellbore (including the casing, liner, and bridge plug) and to identify any issues that might cause an influx to the well when a lightweight fluid was pumped down. The operator asked Halliburton to provide an efficient, single-trip solution.

Solution

Halliburton recommended a solution comprising an RTTS packer, Model 2 circulating valve, a BP hydraulic setting tool, and an EZ Drill bridge plug. Although these tools are not considered to be new technology, what made this solution unique was an added feature to the BP hydraulic setting tool – a reverse circulating lockout feature that helps to ensure that the setting piston does not shift to the closed position during reverse circulating operations. The potential for the shift to the closed position was classed as a high risk by the operations team and the upgrade was implemented to help eliminate this risk.

Result

In a single trip, Halliburton successfully completed the installation of a bridge plug and conducted a successful negative test by utilizing the, RTTS packer, Model 2 circulating valve, BP hydraulic setting tool, and EZ Drill bridge plug to isolate the well and conduct the negative test. Minimizing the number of runs reduced the total operating hours and decreased operational risks, ultimately saving the operator approximately USD $750,000. The operator is now collaborating with Halliburton on future wells where this technology can be implemented.