Intervention solutions reduce risk during P&A campaign

Overview

An operator conducted a multi-platform well-abandonment campaign in the UK North Sea, which required all existing completions to be recovered to the surface. As part of the recovery operations, conventional mechanical plugs were to be set deep in the well and a shallow-set mechanical barrier installed to allow removal of the christmas tree and installation of a blowout preventer (BOP). 

Challenge

The operator challenged Halliburton to reduce cost, risk, and operational time via the installation of shallow barriers that could be fully pressure tested and opened remotely without the requirement for wireline. This would also allow completion recovery directly after the barrier is remotely opened.

Solution

Halliburton proposed the combined solution of an EV0-Trieve™ retrievable bridge plug (RBP) with a 3.25-in. low-activation Hydraulic RED remote equalization device hung directly below. The combination of this equipment permitted remote operation of the Hydraulic RED device on demand via a single applied pressure from the surface. This removed the requirement for wireline to be rigged up to equalize and recover each plug before completion recovery.

Result

Deployment of the 3.25-in. low-activation Hydraulic RED equalization device allowed the operator to pressure test the drilling BOP to the full test value as many times as necessary without the risk of shearing out pins or applying cycles,  as observed with conventional pump open or cycle open plugs. 

The operator implemented the EV0-Trieve™ RBP and Hydraulic Red device to replace conventional plugs and prongs. This change eliminated the need for more than 50 wireline rigups and slickline runs and saved over 300 operational hours during the plug and abandonment (P&A) campaign.