Oilenco

THE CHALLENGE

A major Norwegian operator was attempting to recover a Retrievable Bridge Plug when the plug became stuck and was subsequently left in hole, with a suspected section of damaged tubing identified as the cause.

A multi-finger caliper survey revealed several tubing buckling deformations above the depth where the plug had hung up, raising concerns that the restricted tubing ID could prevent successful recovery of the plug through the affected interval. Before reattempting the recovery operation, the operator required a reliable method of verifying wellbore access through the damaged section and ensuring adequate internal diameter remained within the deformed tubing to allow the Retrievable Bridge Plug to be safely recovered to surface.

THE SOLUTION

The Oilenco One Drift is designed to confirm wellbore ID in a single run and progressively reduces in diameter when encountering any restriction in the wellbore, allowing it to pass areas affected by deformation, scale build-up or other unknown obstructions.

To confirm full radial clearance for recovery of the Retrievable Bridge Plug, two One Drift tools were deployed in parallel, each configured with an outer diameter greater than the maximum outside diameter of the plug. The tools were conveyed into the well in conjunction with an e-line stroker, enabling controlled force to be applied as they passed the area of concern. This provided a direct representation of the minimum clearance required for successful plug recovery.

The One Drifts successfully passed through the buckled section of tubing, confirming that recovery of the Retrievable Bridge Plug remained achievable through the affected interval and allowing the planned fishing operation to proceed.

VALUE CREATED

The successful deployment of the One Drift confirmed wellbore access through the damaged tubing section and verified that the buckled interval could accommodate the recovery of the Retrievable Bridge Plug. This reduced operational uncertainty and provided the operator with the confidence required to proceed with the planned fishing operation.

Following confirmation that adequate clearance existed through the deformed interval, the operator proceeded with their intervention programme and successfully recovered the stuck plug. The well was subsequently returned to production without the need for more complex or costly remediation techniques, helping to minimise downtime and intervention costs.

The operation demonstrated how the One Drift provides a simple and effective solution for confirming wellbore ID in a single run, enabling informed operational decision-making, reducing intervention risk and supporting successful recovery operations in wells affected by tubing deformation and other wellbore restrictions.

FURTHER INFORMATION

call +44 (0)1224 548700 or email info@oilenco.com.