E-Line Solution Opens Failed Fluid Isolation Barrier Valve

CHALLENGE

After setting the lower and upper completions in a highly deviated extended reach well in deepwater offshore Angola, the fluid loss isolation barrier valve could not be opened using the hydraulically actuated mechanism, hence the well could not be put into production. This was assumed to be a result of debris accumulation in the well. A tight time window to execute an intervention meant a rapid but effective solution had to be found to open the valve to avoid deferred production of up to three months while waiting for the next available window on the platform.
 

SOLUTION

The E-Line deployed electrohydraulic PrecisionStroker was run in conjunction with a PrecisionHydraulic Shifting Tool to open the valve. This solution was chosen over a Coiled Tubing intervention option due to its faster mobilisation and rig up time coupled with its smaller footprint requirement, which enabled the operation to be executed within the tight time window available. The toolstring was conveyed to depth over the highly deviated well section using a PowerTrac tractor.

RESULTS

The PrecisionStroker and shifting tool combination successfully opened the isolation valve allowing the well to be put into production. This avoided deferred production of approximately 5,000 BOPD over a potential three month period. The operation itself was also considered a more cost effective solution versus Coiled Tubing with respect to overall well costs. It was requested by the customer that this solution becomes a contingency for all new well completions with fluid loss isolation barrier valves installed.