David R. Larimore

Field Cases of Cost Efficient Well Interventions Performed With Advanced Slickline Technology

Economic initiatives usually drive technological development, and with the significant decline in the oilfield climate during the last decade, it is not surprising this era has been momentous in providing stimuli for operational change. Unfortunately, however, operators who are seeking new methods will usually look to new technologies as the potential problem solvers, and in so doing, overlook enhancements to the traditional technologies that could provide the cost efficient alternatives they are seeking. This has been true of slickline. Until the resurgence of investigation into new strategies to meet the oilfield cost constraints of the last decade, slickline service had only been considered for routine mechanical workovers. This paper will discuss new developments in this technology that provide efficient alternatives to services traditionally reserved for other, more costly options. The discussion will include in-depth descriptions of the new scope of services, an overview of the equipment that combines to make the new options possible, and case histories that illustrate how the equipment combines to efficiently provide low cost solutions for a broad scope of well interventions. Slickline capabilities now include accurate locating of downhole tubular goods/profiles; high-speed data retrieval and transmission for production of quality logs from downhole memory surveys; accurate correlation of tubing or casing collars; setting bridge plugs, packers and other downhole equipment without explosives; shifting downhole tubular sleeves; setting monobore tools and other well interventions that are dependent upon measurement accuracy. In addition to operational efficiency and safety, these alternatives meet the stringent economic needs of todays oilfield.

Low Cost Solutions for Well Interventions Through Advanced Slickline Services

In the past, slickline service has been considered as an option suited only to routine mechanical well workovers. This is no longer the case. New technology has expanded slickline capabilities to include services for well interventions that have traditionally been reserved for other, more-costly alternatives. This paper will discuss the innovative equipment that has been developed to support this technological expansion, all of which plays an integral part in the expanded slickline concept, specifically : . An electronic triggering device that provides a safe, efficient method for firing detonators . A battery-operated, electro-mechanical tool that is capable of setting wellbore devices with slickline and braided line without explosives. . An electronic measurement system that can automatically correct measurement inaccuracies - resulting from line stretch and environmental stress factors. . A collar locator that can provide verification of collar locations in a tubing or casing string. Data/job loggers or acquisition software systems that can be connected to the electronic measurement system to graphically record dynamic information that occurs during a wireline trip. A wireline inspection system that can determine integrity of both new and used mechanical wirelines during and before service. Case histories will be used to provide comparisons of cost, operational efficiency, and enhanced safety features of traditional service options and the new advanced slickline system. Methods for service strategies that support current economic trends and well solutions will also be discussed as well as methods to determine key needs for appropriate service alternatives. The combined use of these slickline tools provides a state-of-the-art service system that can provide efficient alternatives for the advanced service needs in the oilfield today.