Worlds First ISO Qualified External Casing Patch Run in North Sea

– READ solves urgent problems for 2 Major Operators

THE CHALLENGE

2 different major North Sea Operators - 2 different serious casing problems – ONE effective solution.  Operator 1 urgently required a solution for a stuck casing string on a fixed platform. The casing was only 5 feet off bottom, had not reached TD and the casing hanger had not been installed. Operator 2 urgently required a solution for a burst casing to allow an exploration well test to take place.  The casing had split open vertically, just below the subsea casing hanger and would not hold pressure.  This exploration well, was being drilled from a semi-submersible, and the operator had future plans to convert it to a production well.

THE REQUIREMENTS

A solution that would provide a VO gas tight, “life of well”, metal to metal seal qualified to 5000 psi,  no reduction in ID and a connection capable of carrying 770,000 lbs in both tension and compression at operating production temperature.  A speedily activated, industry rated solution which would avoid a potentially time consuming or costly sidetrack or compromises in well construction.

THE SOLUTION

• Contact READ Well Services, the only company in the world which supplies an ISO 13679 qualified External Casing Patch
• Deployment of the READ Hydraulic Expandable Tubular System (HETS) External Patch (EP) for 9 5/8” casing.
• Fast turnaround READ team capable of delivering their HETS operational expertise with maximal up-time
• Casing was cut at a preset depth below the drill floor, depth of cut was checked, the cut casing dressed off with a mill, and the EP assembly was run into the well over the casing stub
• Space-out was performed and the casing hung off in the casing hanger.  Casing below the EP was tensioned using a grapple (connected to the bottom of the EP)
• READ HETS expansion tool was run into the well on drill pipe and positioned utilising the READ depth latch placing the expansion tool correctly across the EP
• 35 minutes later the casing was expanded into the EP 
• Drill pipe and HETS tool were pulled from well and production casing pressure tested to 5,000 psi with no leak.  

VALUE TO CLIENT

• Well #1 can now be used as drilled with a solution that has been qualified to the ISO 13679 standard as part of a JIP, providing a gas tight, metal to metal seal system.  Well #2 can now continue with the Well Test.
• The expense of cutting and pulling casing and then sidetracking the well has been saved.
•  The HETS-EP was the preferred solution because of the qualification criteria and the “simplicity and elegance” of its engineering design (quote from Operator)
  

“HETS” is a registered trademark of READ Well Services