HER0® bridge plug maintains pressure integrity in well shut-in

Overview

Sonatrach needed a high-expansion retrievable bridge plug (RBP) to provide reliable performance for well shut-in purposes. The shut-in would allow well data to be collected from as close to the formation as possible; however, tubing restrictions prevented access to the lower-most casing depth.

Challenge

Sonatrach required a low-cost, slickline-deployed retrievable mechanical barrier. The wells contained landing nipple restrictions above the target setting depth. A mechanical barrier was needed to provide pressure integrity for well shut-ins with up to 18 days duration down hole. Due to remote conditions, the RBP was also required to have a field-friendly redress for multi-well use.

In this oil-producing land-well in northern Africa, the RBP had a tight restriction to pass through before setting within a larger tubing size and providing pressure integrity to enable gauge data recordings.

Solution

Standard RBP or packer options are typically suited to 3.688-inch restrictions, making them unable to pass through the 3.452-inch restriction and set within the required tubing size.

The HERO high-expansion RBP provides the capability to pass a 3.452-inch restriction and to set within 4½-inch, 13.5-lb/ft tubing. The HERO RBP has been qualified as a mechanical barrier.

Result

A single HERO RBP was utilized on three separate post-redress occasions at this location, with sustained performance levels on each installation and retrieval operation. Over these three jobs, Sonatrach achieved 38 total days of pressure integrity, along with retrievable success. This quick three-day operational turnaround saved Sonatrach valuable standby time and costs.

Contributing to the success of the high-expansion HERO bridge plug is its ability to pass through tight restrictions, and then to set at target depth and provide pressure integrity in larger tubing IDs. In addition to being slickline deployable, this RBP offers repeated and reliable performance, and is debris tolerant for ease of retrievability after multiple days down hole.