Well Integrity Technical Section

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  • 1.  Jet Pump Well Integrity Assurance Guidance

    Posted 11-22-2022 08:16 PM

    I am looking for industry guidance documentation as to how to assure well integrity for oil producer wells that utilize forward and reverse circulating jet pumps with an inner casing as a path for produced fluids or power fluids respectively.   Can anyone point me to published RPs, ISO or API standards? 

     

     



  • 2.  RE: Jet Pump Well Integrity Assurance Guidance

    Posted 11-24-2022 04:53 PM
    Melvin,

    The well integrity guidance doesn't change with artificial lift method.   You still need to provide two barriers between the environment and uncontrolled flow of well fluid.  The existing API and ISO standards cover the well construction to obtain 2 well barriers. Norsok presents a standard on operating production wells.  

    For a jet pump with high pressure power fluid you have to assess the risks of operating in different configurations and determine what configurations minimize the risk for your well design.  If you have a very corrosive/erosive  produced fluid, even after dilution, than exposing that to the production casing, in a single barrier system, has higher risks than the reverse flow arrangement. If your power fluid can leak off due to a failure of your production casing than you need to have a good monitoring system for losses and maybe more frequent well testing.  You may need to make a casing inspection log a non-optional operation during any workover.  Finally, if your well is depleted and will not flow to surface, or your weakest part of the casing system, you may be able to 'obtain' your secondary barrier with a simple shut-in.

    I was the production engineer on a hydraulic pumping system on 4 platforms years ago.  We had great success diluting asphaltenes to avoid plugging but the volumes of high pressure fluid required meant our biggest issues were all surface equipment leaks and erosion. We used power fluid in the annulus and produced up the tubing in this offshore environment.

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    Dan Gibson
    aka The Well Doctor
    Completion & Well Integrity Advisor
    Houston, Texas
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