Discipline: Drilling and Completions
Lessons
Learned in Technology Development…
…and
Perforating ‘Smart’ Wells
Abstract:
Developing
new technology is often considered risky, misunderstood, and prone to time and
budget over-runs. This presentation
will use a recent ‘smart’ well technology development program as an example of
challenges in new technology development. The presentation will also discuss
challenges of introducing new technology, and pitfalls that are often
encountered that perpetuate the 'not in my well' attitude that is often heard
when introducing new technology.
Increasing
numbers of 'smart' and instrumented wells are being completed worldwide. Many
of these types of completions will require perforating as part of the initial
completion and many more may require perforating at some time during the life
of the well. Even completions that do not require perforating, such as common
packer/sliding sleeve open hole completions, still rely on perforation
technology to provide a back-up contingency.
This
presentation identifies challenges and methods developed to mitigate problems
associated with and to enable perforating instrumented and smart wells. This
presentation will also review the tools and techniques available to perforate
these types of completions, while avoiding damage to pipe external control
lines, cables, gauges, fiber optic lines, and other critical completion
equipment. Discussions will cover a brief history and limitations of currently
available tools and techniques. Details of testing and tool developments will
be discussed followed by lessons learned from a multi-well field program.
The
instrumented ‘smart’ well development program discussed in this presentation
includes six wells ranging from a 2,600' measured depth vertical well to 3
horizontal completions with measured depths exceeding 16,000'. The program
included running over 20 logs ranging from magnetic based detection tools to
ultrasonic tools, and perforating 129 separate intervals. Results of testing available
tools and details of development of new equipment, tools and techniques will be
discussed. No external cables or other smart well components were damaged
during the 129 perforating operations.