Expandable cased-hole liners changed the status of a 51-year old, Occidental Permian Ltd. well from a plug-and-abandonment candidate to an active injecting well.
Enventure Global Technology, a company formed by Shell Technology Ventures Inc. and Halliburton Energy Services, says three of its 41/4-in., 10.7 lb/ft liners were placed in the West Texas well as follows (Fig. 1):
- The first lowest liner at 4,835-4,640 ft (193 ft) serves as the well's new packer seat.
- The next liner up at 3,773-3,236 ft, sealed 537 ft of deteriorated, leaking casing.
- The third liner at 1,824-910 ft (914 ft), a world record length for a cased-hole liner, repaired casing damage caused by a corrosive clay formation, known locally as the "red beds."
Enventure indicates that a Halliburton CAST-V ultrasonic log mapped the condition of the casing, including both OD and ID, prior to liner installation. The original 51/2-in. production string had casing of various weights. Pressure tests on the liners, to 880 psi on the top two and 2,000 psi on the packer seat, indicated no leaks, according to Enventure.
Dimensions and strength of the liners changed from pre to the post-expansion state. Liner IDs increased to 4.349 in. from 3.750 in., yield strength decreased to 4,680 psi from 5,660 psi, and collapse strength decreased to 3,050 psi from 5,495 psi.
The liners include a series of elastomers at each end that act both as seals and as anchors for the expanded liner.
Enventure says that this is its seventh solid expandable tubular installation. It now has completed four in cased hole and three in open hole.
