Setting a hydraulic production packer: a comparative study on existing plugging methods in highly deviated wells and a proposed conceptual design

Abstract

One of the challenges to complete a highly deviated well is to set hydraulically set production packers. A hydraulically set production packer is set by pressuring up the tubing string to create a differential pressure between the tubing string and annulus. The tubing string’s closed system can be achieved by setting a profile plug at the end of the tubing string using a ball-activated pump-out plug or the disappearing plug. The profile plug and ball-activated pump out plug are risky to be used in highly deviated wells. In contrast, the disappearing plug creates unwanted debris, and it requires additional equipment to allow well circulation if unexpected well losses happen. This study was conducted to compare the available methods for well plugging in markets and construct a concept design as an option for the current methods available in the oil and gas marketplace. The concept design was developed by refining the existing methods to offer a low-cost alternative. This devised method requires no slickline run, auto-filling tubing while running in-hole, eliminating the drop ball application, and has an option for well circulation. This study was conducted based on existing Well A data. A comparative study was done to existing methods in Well A. The concept design was built using SolidWorks software, and the concept design application in Well A was compared with the ball-activated pump out plug. From the comparative study, the ball activated-pump out plug offers the lowest overall cost. The concept design produced from this research adopted the principle of the ball-activated pump out plug with the final design offers alternative well-plugging options for oil companies with the features mentioned above. Eventually, the new conceptual design would provide oil companies with lower overall costs and lower operational risks for well plugging during well completions.