Prevention of surface annular casing pressure (SCP/SAP) in the B-annulus
David Field A , Johnny Bårdsen A and Vibjørn Dagestad AWelltec Oilfield Services Pty Ltd.
The APPEA Journal 56(2) 610-610 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ15116
Published: 2016
Abstract
The annulus between the 9⅝″ and the 13⅜″ casing strings within a Norwegian field development had historically exhibited pressure build-up at surface on many wells. It had been determined that the source of the pressure was a gas-charged formation just below the 13⅜″ shoe. Eliminating surface annular pressure (SAP) was a priority along with easy barrier verification for the lifetime of the well.
To eliminate the SAP several methods had been trialled over the years, including single-stage cementing, ECPs, and liner tie-back solutions—all of which had failed to resolve the problem. Meanwhile, a hydraulically expanded steel annular barrier had been successfully deployed by the operator for zonal isolation in a number of wells across various reservoir sections. It was proposed that the same technology be used as an alternative solution to eliminate the SAP.
To be utilised as a primary well barrier, the solution had to pass a number of significant criteria. It was carefully reviewed by the operator’s well integrity team to ensure that the system complied with their own company standards and the Norsok D10 guidelines. Verification of the annular barrier as the primary barrier was achieved by the application of surface pressure down the 13⅜″ by 9⅝″ annulus; pressure equivalent to the fracture gradient of the formation below the 13⅜″ shoe plus a 1,030 psi surplus.
This installation marks the first time that something other than cement has been installed in a well completion as a primary barrier.
David Field has more than 29 years of extensive multi-discipline field operations and management experience in the oil and gas industry. After serving an apprenticeship in mechanical engineering, David spent the first 14 years of his oilfield career as a roving field engineer, performing wireline conveyed vertical seismic profile data acquisition around the globe. He then took advantage of the late 1990s oil recession by taking some time out and travelling for pleasure. Upon the oil price recovery, David changed tack and joined a new technology company providing fiber-optic DTS systems for the oil and gas industry. In December 2006, he accepted a position as the APAC Regional Operations Manager for a renowned wellbore cleanup tools company. David joined Welltec in May 2013 as the Australasia Business Development Manager based in Perth, and is thoroughly enjoying his tenure with this innovative company. |
Johnny Bårdsen has extensive experience within the oil and gas industry. Among others, he has worked for several years with Baker Hughes and Statoil before joining Welltec in 2012 as Sales Director for Well Completion Solutions in Scandinavia. Recently, Johnny won the Best Presentation Award at SPE Bergen, where he focused on the WAB® and the Flex-Well® concepts. |
Vibjørn Dagestad graduated with a Master of Science from the University of Stavanger in 1991. He has held positions within service companies and operators, with diversified responsibilities covering well intervention, thru-tubing operations, completions, drilling, well control and production, where his work has been carried out from both the office and in the field. Vibjørn has worked in several regions, most recently in the Middle East and the North Sea before joining Welltec in February 2015. |
