Oilenco

Decommissioning experts Well-Safe Solutions were actively seeking timesaving opportunities to improve efficiencies during abandonment tubing recovery operations.

THE CHALLENGE
Traditional opening devices, such as pressure operated pump open subs, are limited to a single application of pressure before opening. The challenge was to provide a solution with the flexibility to allow the user to conduct several pressure tests without the fear of accidentally opening the valve.

THE CONCEPT
Oilenco presented the pressure wave valve (PWV) - an intervention-free, open-on-demand remote opening device that can be attached to nipple-set locks or tubing set bridge plugs and operated remotely through cycles in tubing pressure.

The PWV allows multiple cycles of pressure to be applied in succession before being fully opened. When the operator wants to open the PWV, tubing pressure is applied in a series of cycles (e.g. 1,000 psi to 3,000 psi to 1,000 psi) until the valve fully opens.

The PWV has a very large through-bore and allows fluid to pass freely through the device, ideally when pulling tubing to surface in a 'dry' condition.

Furthermore, the PWV is not time dependent (as with many battery operated devices) and can be activated within a few hours, days, months or even years after installation.

THE RESULT
During initial operations, there was a very late change of bridge plug supplier requiring a rapid turnaround of crossovers to which Oilenco were able to accommodate. The collaboration between both companies proved invaluable in delivering operational objectives in a timely and efficient manner.

Working alongside the retrievable bridge plug supplier, Oilenco were able to configure the PWVs with the desired parameters. Once the shallow set barrier was installed and pressure tested, the Xmas tree was then removed and the drilling BOPs installed. Further pressure testing was carried out to the maximum anticipated wellhead pressure. Subsequently, the PWV was then pressure cycled open allowing the tubing to be pulled 'dry' without the need for further wireline intervention.

CLIENT SUPPORT
After a very successful 2021, Oilenco continued to support Well-Safe Solutions for their 2022/2023 P&A campaigns and continues to introduce more efficiency-driven technologies to their operations. Well-Safe Solutions installed a further nine PWVs as part of their Schooner platform abandonment campaign.

FURTHER INFORMATION
To speak to one of our engineers about your application, call +44 (0)1224 548700 or email info@oilenco.com.